Capital
Luanda

Geographical location:
Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the west.

The exclave of Cabinda also borders the Republic of the Congo to the north.

Climate
Semi-arid in south and along the coast to Luanda; north is cool, dry season (May to October), and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Economy
Angola's economic performance is largely determined by the level of oil production which accounts for over 90 per cent of exports. Sub-saharan Africa's second-largest oil producer after Nigeria, Angola is considered one of the world's most exciting oil exploration prospects. Angola is the fourth-largest diamond producer in the world

Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and 90% of exports.

With the advent of peace in 2002 a strategic partnership with China is set in motion, so huge investments by Chinese companies are now in place, especially in the construction sector and more recently in the metallurgical sector.

Mining
With substantial deposits of gold, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, copper, lead, quartz, gypsum, marble, black granite, beryl, zinc and numerous base and strategic metals, Angola has been described as one of the world's biggest and least developed mineral treasure troves. The government has developed a policy framework to encourage investment in the mining sector.

Agriculture & Fishing
Angola was self-sufficient in most food crops and a top producer of commercial crops such as coffee, sisal, palm oil, bananas and sugar cane, and boasted annual fish catches of nearly 600,00 tons before war broke out in the wake of independence in 1975. Angola’s 1,600 km coastline is rich with mackerel, tuna, shellfish and sardines. The annual catch once averaged 300,000 tons a year.

Angola has fishing cooperative agreements with the European Union, Russia, and some Asian countries.

The Angolan government seeks to revive both the agriculture and fishing sectors.

Products: Bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, tapioca, tobacco, vegetables, plantains, livestock, forest products, fish.

Manufacturing
Before independence, Angola's manufacturing sector employed 200,000 people and produced $650 million worth of goods. With the end of the war and an infusion of capital, technology and training, food processing and light industry should recover quickly. Angola previously produced beer, sugar, wheat flour, cooking oil and soft drinks as well as textiles, soap, paint, plastic and glues. Heavy industry, including cement and steel tube production, oil refining, vehicle assembly and tire production, account for about 15 percent of the country's manufacturing output.

Tourism
The tourism, as one of the important vectors of the economic development has, in Angola, some polar regions of investment and intends its widening in all the domestic territory. In 2003, the country was visited by 106.625 foreign tourists. As the statistical data, Angola has 96 hotels and 160 travel agencies.

Transport
The finished war caused severe deterioration of the existing road, ports, and rail and airport facilities that all must be repaired or renovated.

Rail:
Railways: total: 2,761km (2004). There are three separate lines which do not link up. The fourth system linked Gunza and Gabela. The major railway in Angola is the Benguela railway.

Road:
Roadways: total: 51,429km - paved: 5,349km; unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Maritime: waterways: 1,300 km (2004)

Luanda, Lobito and Namibe are the biggest harbours. There are many others that serve only navigation by the coast and are thus very crucial to the southern African sub-regional trade.

Ports and terminals: Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo

Air:
Luanda airport has one of the most intense air traffic in Africa. The national airline TAAG (Angolan Airlines) has recently embarked on a program to improve its services. There are a considerable number of private companies providing charter flights and rental services eg. Sonangol Aeronautica and Sal (Aviação Ligeira). The national airline TAAG, now offers a service on a par with that of good international companies.

Airports: 243 (2004)

FOREIGN TRADE
The country’s oil exports form 90% of all exports. Other products include diamonds, gas, coffee, as well as sisal and fish products. They are exported to countries such as the US, Benelux countries, China and Taiwan.

Angola’s imports include machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts as well as medicines, food and textiles. South Korea, South Africa, Portugal, the US and France are the main suppliers of these items to the country.

Annual Indicators

*Estimated data
**Official estimates

Foreign Trade

Mainland China-Angola Bilateral Trade (USD 10,000)

* China’s export value to Angola
** China’s import value from Angola

Source:

• China Statistical Yearbook 2006
• The Economist Intelligence Unit – Country Profile, Country Report
• The Economic Services of the Macao SAR Government
• Embaixada da Republica de Angola em Portugal
• The Macau Statistics and Census Department
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
• The World Bank homepage
• World Economic Factbook
• The World Factbook

Related Links:

• Consulado de Angola no Brasil www.radnet.com.br/consuladodeangola
• Embaixada da República de Angola em Portugal http://embangola.artedesign-net.pt
• Official site of Angola’s government www.angola.org
• Wikepedia – Angola http://pt.wikipedia.org
• The World Bank www.worldbank.org
• The World Factbook www.cia.gov