Ambassador Fernando Miguel: New stage of development in Vietnam-Angola relations

According to Ambassador Fernando Miguel, President Luong Cuong's state visit to Angola marks a turning point in the history of traditional friendship between the two countries.

President Luong Cuong received Angolan Ambassador Fernando Miguel who presented his credentials and assumed his duties in Vietnam (April 24, 2025). (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Angola João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and his wife, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong and his wife will pay a State visit to the Republic of Angola. On this occasion, Angolan Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Miguel gave an interview to the press.

- The visit to Angola by President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong took place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Angola (1975-2025). Could you share your views on the significance of this visit to the bilateral relations between the two countries?

Ambassador Fernando Miguel: President Luong Cuong's State visit to Angola is of great significance, marking a turning point in the history of traditional friendship between the two countries.

This is the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader to Angola in nearly two decades and takes place at a time when the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (1975-2025), further highlighting the historical and symbolic significance of the event.

The visit not only demonstrates Vietnam's importance to its relationship with Angola, but also creates new political momentum to comprehensively promote bilateral cooperation in all fields.

During the visit, the two sides will sign a number of important cooperation documents and hold meetings between senior leaders, ministries and businesses. This will be an opportunity to review the implementation of existing agreements, identify new priorities and establish a favorable legal framework for future cooperation initiatives.

I believe that this visit will lay a solid foundation for opening a new stage of development in relations between the two countries, not only in political depth but also in economic and cultural breadth.

- How does the Ambassador assess the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, especially after this important visit?

Ambassador Fernando Miguel: The potential for economic cooperation between Angola and Vietnam is huge and promising, although it has not yet been fully exploited in accordance with the actual capacity and needs of each side.

With a population of nearly 36 million people, Angola is one of the markets with the largest consumption potential in Africa, especially in the fields of consumer goods, processed agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and technological equipment.

In addition, Angola is also a country rich in natural resources, including rich mineral reserves, tropical timber, large areas of arable land and many valuable river basins, creating favorable conditions for investment and production activities.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has many competitive advantages in producing, processing and exporting goods suitable for the consumption needs of the Angolan market, creating a solid foundation for enhancing trade exchange and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam's exports to Angola mainly focus on items such as rice, textiles, and fertilizers... In the photo: Sewing export goods at Ho Guom Garment Company. (Photo: Tran Viet/VNA)

In recent years, bilateral trade turnover has fluctuated at 150-200 million USD per year, but this figure is still too modest compared to the actual potential. In particular, areas such as oil and gas, telecommunications, agriculture, health care and vocational training are areas of great interest to Angola and Vietnam has rich practical experience.

The two sides are making efforts to negotiate and sign important agreements such as the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and memorandums of understanding on trade, agriculture and industry cooperation, which will open up favorable legal corridors for businesses of the two countries to feel secure in investing and expanding long-term cooperation.

In addition, Angola is implementing the National Development Strategy for 2023-2027, focusing on industrialization, sustainable agriculture and digital transformation. These are areas where Vietnam has practical strengths and experience, which can be shared through a "mutual development" cooperation model instead of just simple trade exchanges.

I believe that after this visit, we will witness a new wave of bilateral economic cooperation that is more practical and effective.

- What is your opinion on the role of the Vietnamese business community in Angola, and what investment opportunities does Angola currently have?

Ambassador Fernando Miguel: The Vietnamese business community in Angola, although mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, has been playing an important bridging role in promoting economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Vietnam-Angola Investment Cooperation Seminar on Telecommunications and Information Technology (Hanoi, March 13, 2017). (Photo: Minh Quyet/VNA)

Vietnam currently has the largest overseas Vietnamese community in Angola, and is also the largest Vietnamese community in Africa, with nearly 8,000 people living and working, mainly concentrated in the capital Luanda and neighboring provinces. They operate in many fields such as construction, trade, services, electronics, education and health. The diligence, creativity and high adaptability of the Vietnamese people have helped them affirm a solid position in the local economy.

As Angola gradually improves its investment climate and encourages the private sector to act as a growth engine, new opportunities are opening up for foreign businesses.

Current priority investment sectors include: agricultural production and food processing (to reduce dependence on imports); light industry; pharmaceuticals; logistics infrastructure; telecommunications; education and vocational training; financial services and digital technology.

Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and Angolan Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Maria do Rosário Bragança witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Agostinho Neto University at the 7th Session of the Vietnam-Angola Intergovernmental Committee (Luanda, March 28, 2024). (Photo: Van Trung/VNA)

The Angolan government has simplified investment licensing procedures, exempted tariffs for priority projects and established special economic zones with one-stop mechanisms.

I encourage Vietnamese businesses, including large corporations and small and medium enterprises, to approach the Angolan market as long-term strategic partners, together building sustainable value chains in Africa.

- Thank you very much Ambassador Fernando Miguel!

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dai-su-fernando-miguel-giai-doan-phat-trien-moi-trong-quan-he-viet-nam-angola-post1053955.vnp