Bilateral meeting with the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources of Angola - H.E. Carmen Sacramento Neto

Rome – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Her Excellency Carmen Sacramento Neto, Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Angola, met on the sidelines of the 43rd Session of the FAO Conference.

The Minister began by congratulating the Director-General on the excellent result of his re-election for a second term as Director-General of the Organization. She proceeded to inform the Director-General of the Angola’s National Development Plan (NDP) for 2024-2028, where the agriculture sector – accounting for 55% of employment – is considered a driver of economic diversification, and poverty and hunger reduction.

The two proceeded to have a fruitful discussion on the importance of the Angola Blue Investment Platform Initiative, as part of the new presidential flagship NDP. Specifically, the Minister noted the need for additional capacity building and technical assistance from FAO for both the fisheries and agriculture sectors.

In turn, the Director-General thanked the Minister and commended the efforts undertaken by Angola, and highlighted the importance of purchasing power as a key driver for economic growth. The Director-General also noted that holistic designs (targeted to small holder farmers) improved intercropping systems, water resources management, value chain management and agrifood processing systems, for increased overall output.

The two also agreed that aquaculture is a key sector for Angola and has huge potential for expansion, supporting agrifood system transformation in the country and the continent.