Investment Opportunities
ARABLE LAND
According to information from the World Bank, in 2014, arable land in Angola accounted for close to 4% of the nation's total area. The data indicates that the percentage of arable land in Angola has been increasing steadily since 2004.
Angola's soils are some of Africa's most fertile and its climate is exceptionally conducive to agriculture. In the past, Angola was nearly agriculturally self-suffcient with wheat being the only exception. The civil war signifcantly affected the sector and limited the country's agricultural output.
Currently, some of the main crops grown in Angola include coffee, bananas and cassava. Data from the government indicates that close to two-thirds of the Angolan people rely on agriculture either directly or indirectly for their livelihoods.
OIL & GAS
Angola is the second largest producer of oil in Sub-Saharan Africa and is producing about 1.55 million barrels in a day, which is about 1000 barrels below its capacity.
The country is a member of the OPEC and also produces natural gas of about 17,904.5 million cubic feet. The country has about 9 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and approximately IT trillion cubic feet of natural gas. As a result, the drop in global oil prices and the lack of foreign currencies in the country has led to limited investments in new Exploration.
About 75% of the oil produced in the country is from the felds in the offshore and produces light sweet crude oil coming with low sulfur content, which is suitable for processing light refned petroleum. The country planned to increase its output by 2020, and also embarked on restructuring the industry.
DIAMONDS
Diamonds are the most vital of Angola's mineral resources. Angola's modern diamond mining industry traced its roots to the colonial period in 1912 when significant deposits of diamond were found in the country's northeastern edge near a region known as Lunda.
During the civil war, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola targeted the diamond mining industry, and due to its attacks, the industry was crippled.
One of the measures that has been implemented and put in place is an anti-smuggling campaign dubbed Operation Brilliant. The operation was relatively successful as it led to the apprehension of more than 250,000 smugglers over three years from 2003 to 2006.
COFFEE
Since the colonial era, coffee has been one of Angola's most important natural resources. During the colonial era, Angola was one of the world's leading producers of coffee.
During this period, coffee was mainly grown in the northwestern edge of the country. Angola's civil war neatly decimated the nation's coffee industry since most of the Portuguese coffee farmers fled to Brazil. At the end of the civil war, the government immediately instituted reforms in the coffee sector in an attempt to return production to colonial levels.
Industry experts believe that the relevant reforms are likely to cost the government $230 million. One of the main reforms meant to revitalize the coffee sector is the improvement of the transport sector particularly the roads.
FORREST
In Angola, forests cover close to 18.4% of the nation's total area and form one of the country's most critical natural resources.
One of Angola's significant forests is the Maiombe forest which is situated in Cabinda. Some of the trees exported from Angola include cypress, pines, and eucalyptus.
FISH
One of Angola's most important natural resources is fish. The importance of fishing to the Angolan economy dates back to the colonial period. During the early 1970s, government records indicate that there were close to 700 fishing vessels within Angola's territorial waters. At the time, nearly 300,000 tons of fish were caught each year within Angola's waters.
The civil war greatly diminished the value of Angola's fishing sector but now the government is investing vast sums of money in ensuring that the fishing industry is revitalized. As part of its revitalization program, the Angolan government allows foreign nations to fish within its territorial waters. Some of the foreign nations that are allowed to fish in Angola's waters include Italy, Japan and Spain.