Luanda: The Angolan Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Jos© de Lima Massano, announced on Thursday the launch of the next phase of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (ENIF), which aims to enable mobile and digital payment service providers to start offering credit. This announcement was made during the 15th meeting of the African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI).
According to Angola Press News Agency, Jos© de Lima Massano highlighted that the ENIF, despite its short implementation period, is already showing promising results. He stated that the strategy's evolution would be bolstered by improvements in the business environment and macroeconomic stability, which are crucial for expanding financing through innovative and accessible solutions. The Minister noted that inflation in June reached its lowest level since 2015, fostering an environment that protects household income, preserves savings, encourages investment, and enhances financing conditions.
The Minister emphasized that the financial inclusion strategy, initiated in December 2025, aims to broaden access to financial services while enhancing financial literacy, digital infrastructure, and consumer protection. This comprehensive approach is designed to ensure widespread access to financial services. Notably, the financial inclusion rate reached 51.7% in the first quarter of this year, nearing the 65% target set for 2027. Moreover, the banking penetration rate stands at 32%, equivalent to 5.7 million citizens, with a goal to increase it to 36% by 2027, allowing approximately eight million citizens to have a bank account.
Massano also reported a significant rise in mobile and digital payments, with a 56% increase by the end of the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year. He attributed this positive trend to improvements in the business climate and macroeconomic stability. The June inflation rate of 10.11% is the lowest since 2015, enhancing income protection and access to affordable credit.
The Minister expressed optimism that easier access to credit would lead to the development of innovative financial solutions, thus accelerating financial inclusion and distributing the benefits of stability and economic growth. The AfPI meeting, a two-day event, gathers representatives from central banks, regulators, policymakers, and financial institutions to discuss challenges and opportunities in accelerating financial inclusion across Africa. It also aims to strengthen regional cooperation and share best practices.
This year's AfPI meeting is part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the National Bank of Angola (BNA), scheduled for November 5th. The African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI), established in May 2017 in Maputo, Mozambique, during the 5th Annual Roundtable, is the leading continental platform for regulators in the sector. Comprising 32 countries, AfPI succeeded the African Mobile Phone Financial Services Policy Initiative (AMPI), launched in February 2013.