(3 Minutes Read)
Angola is set to begin exporting domestically produced salt to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) next week, marking a pivotal step in its broader strategy to diversify the national economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues. This new export initiative follows the signing of a cross-border trade agreement during a regional event in Mbanza Kongo, the capital of Zaire Province.
The agreement, reached during the fifth edition of Expo-Kongo—a trade fair commemorating the eighth anniversary of Mbanza Kongo’s designation as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site—signals a renewed push by Angola to deepen regional trade relations. The expo featured 150 exhibitors from several Angolan provinces, including Zaire, Uíge, Luanda, and Benguela, showcasing sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, livestock, commerce, tourism, and transportation.
Salinas Calombolo, the Benguela-based company at the forefront of this export deal, currently produces around 200,000 tonnes of salt monthly. According to the company’s Commercial Director, Nercia Tailer, this new cross-border agreement will not only stimulate production growth but also position Angola as a competitive player in the regional salt market. The company has already allocated an initial 80,000 tonnes of salt specifically for export.
In the first phase of the export operation, Congolese firm Mbakidi Ngangu will import 40,000 sacks of Angolan salt, each weighing 25 kilograms. Joaquim Frederico Mingui, the company’s manager, praised the product’s superior quality and pointed to the deal as proof of Angola’s growing strength in salt production and processing.
Fátima Delicado, National Director of Fisheries and Salt at Angola’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, welcomed the trade partnership, stating that it aligns with the government’s broader economic reform agenda. Speaking to state news agency Angop, Delicado emphasized that Angola is already self-sufficient in iodised salt production. She added that expanding strategic trade partnerships, such as the one with the DRC, is vital to increasing market access and reinforcing Angola’s non-oil exports.
Read Also;
https://trendsnafrica.com/namibia-exports-first-consignment-of-salt-under-afcfta/
This development is not only a boost for Angola’s salt industry but also a symbolic shift toward sustainable economic practices. By tapping into its natural resources beyond oil, Angola is working to build a more resilient and regionally integrated economy, leveraging cross-border cooperation to enhance trade flows and job creation.
