Luanda: International relations expert Marlene Mangala said Monday that the United States of America (USA)-Africa summit represents a milestone in the executive’s strategic vision of international repositioning and economic diplomacy. Speaking to ANGOP about the 17th edition of the event, taking place this month in Luanda, she said that the choice of Angola as host is not only symbolic, but represents recognition of the progress the country has made in terms of macroeconomic stability.
According to Angola Press News Agency, it also signaled the Executive’s commitment to promoting private investment and diplomatic repositioning at continental and global levels. The expert, who closely follows the evolution of Angolan economic diplomacy, predicted that the summit could project Angola as a new business and investment platform in Africa.
Mangala said that the government’s commitment to diversifying sources of national income has been underpinned by a model that favors economic dialogue with international partners. “This summit is yet another expression of economic diplomacy in action. Through it, Angola is seeking to attract investment in strategic sectors such as agriculture, industry, energy, and emerging technologies,” she said.
With the Summit, she said, Angola is asserting itself as a relevant and reliable player in the dynamics of South-North and South-South cooperation. Mangala praised the creation of the Interministerial Working Group, coordinated by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, as proof of the seriousness with which the Executive views the event.
From an economic point of view, Mangala emphasized that the summit could speed up Angola’s integration into global value chains, especially in the non-oil sectors, with concrete export opportunities, technology transfer, and access to international funding. ‘These are the kind of initiatives that give shape to the much-desired economic diversification,’ he noted.
She added that at the regional level, the summit could also strengthen Angola’s role as a mediator of interests between African countries and the United States. Marlene Mangala argued that the greatest legacy of this summit should be the consolidation of a foreign policy based on tangible results for the country’s sustainable development, arguing that economic diplomacy should continue to be a central tool of Angolan foreign policy.