Luanda, Jan. 22, 2025 (Lusa) - The European Union's ambassador to Angola said on Wednesday that the European bloc would continue to support the country in training and education and announced a new programme worth €43 million, to start in 2026.
Rosário Bento Pais, who was speaking today in Luanda on the sidelines of a review of the RETFOP (Revitalisation of Technical Education and Vocational Training in Angola) programme, stressed that this initiative aims to develop job creation and the skills needed to develop the Lobito Corridor.
"Today we are closing a programme to relaunch vocational education and training, which cost €26 million over five years, and now, in view of the results, we are going to continue (...) with a further strengthening of this partnership," said the European official.
The €43 million reinforces the bilateral financial framework already announced for the next seven years, totalling €403 million, she added, stressing that "human capital is the great need" in Angola.
"That's what we're going to continue to focus on, training people at a technical-vocational level and in higher education, which is the basis for the country's economic development," said Rosário Bento Pais, indicating that, within the scope of the European Global Gateway strategy, which includes support for the Lobito Corridor, the aim is to develop all areas, such as energy, agricultural value chains and digitalisation, and not just transport.
The European ambassador explained that the aim is to make the link between the needs of the private sector and the provision of training in order to fill the gaps in terms of human capital.
Rosário Bento Pais also emphasised that the European bloc is strongly committed to supporting the development of education in partner countries and currently provides financial assistance to around 100 countries in the areas of education and vocational training.
At the same event, the minister of state for social affairs, Maria do Rosário Bragança, highlighted Angola's strategic cooperation with the European Union, in particular the countries implementing the RETFOP project - Portugal and France - stressing that technical education and vocational training are one of the country's main priorities and pointing to the increase in investment in technical qualifications and human resources.
The Portuguese secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Nuno Sampaio, who arrived in Angola on Tuesday for a three-day visit, emphasised the role of Portuguese companies in training human capital and vocational training in this Portuguese-speaking country, which Portugal wants to continue promoting.
RETFOP has trained 316 teachers and promoted 600 internships in more than 50 companies in various Angolan provinces, as well as promoting a fund to support entrepreneurship worth 228 million kwanzas (around €230,000).
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