The President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Angola (AmCham), Pedro Godinho, announced in Luanda last week that the United States government has approved a $2 billion investment in renewable energy projects across Benguela, Cuando Cubango, Moxico, and Namibe provinces.
During President João Lourenço’s ongoing visit to the United States to bolster economic and commercial ties, Pedro Godinho highlighted the U.S. government’s commitment to finance these projects, signaling the Biden administration’s keen interest in strengthening economic relations between Angola and the USA.
Moreover, Godinho mentioned that at the recent G-7 meeting, President Joe Biden and the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyer, pledged $200 million for the development of the Lobito Corridor.
“President Joe Biden emphasized Angola’s potential and expressed the United States’ interest in supporting Angola’s economic rise in Africa,” Godinho stated.
Referencing Biden’s prior commitment at the G-7 summit held in Germany last year, Godinho recalled Biden’s pledge to mobilize $600 billion for Africa’s development, with a significant portion allocated from the United States.
Godinho underlined the significance of Biden’s recognition of Angola’s potential, stating, “If the President of the United States, leading the world’s largest nation, recognizes Angola’s potential, it’s incumbent upon us to believe in the country’s global potential.”
Discussing Angola’s global role, Godinho expressed interest in Angola joining the G-30, a group comprising the 30 most influential countries worldwide in terms of economic power.
While acknowledging U.S. investments in Angola’s petroleum, financial sectors, renewable energy, and infrastructure (such as the Lobito Corridor), Godinho highlighted the strengthening relations between the two nations, describing them as transitioning from good to excellent under the Biden administration.
He emphasized Biden’s dedication to fostering relationships and contributing to Africa’s development, particularly acknowledging Angola’s strategic position in Africa and its conflict resolution strategies in the region.
