Agro-Food Industry as Engine for Growth and Wealth - EMRC

I nterview
Dumilde Rangel
Governor of the Province of Benguela /Angola
Governor Rangel graduated from Agostinho Neto’s university in economics,
accounting and finance. He was the director of a commercial
company exporting diamonds, oil and coffee until 1987, when he was
appointed Minister of External Commerce, which later merged with
the Ministry of Industry. In 1990 he was appointed Governor of the
Huíla province, and since 1996 he has been Governor of Benguela.
■ Dialogues: Mainly due to its rich past, the province of Benguela is
one of the most promising regions in Angola. As Governor of the province,
what are your priorities at the moment?
Governor Rangel: The most important projects are the rehabilitation and
expansion of the Commercial Port of Lobito and the modernisation of the
Benguela Railway. This 1300 Km railway crosses Africa from the West to
the East coast through the Republic of Zambia, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South Africa. Its importance
as an international railway is therefore proven, and we must modernize
it in order to regain the commercial strength we used to have within
the SADC region. The government is also working on the reconstruction
of 1000 Km of roads from Luanda-Lobito-Benguela-Huambo, as well as
stretches of the Benguela-Lubango and Benguela-Namibe roads.
Benguela has another program called PIIB (Programa Integrado de Infra-estructuras
de Benguela), which is due to last for 8 years. It involves
mainly the modernisation of the water and power supplies, improving
communications, basic sanitation/drainage, street pavements and
public gardens. The aim is to improve the overall “look” of the main
cities within the Province: Benguela, Lobito, Baia Farta and Catumbela.
As we are getting close to the general elections in Autumn 2008, my
efforts as Governor are aimed at attracting potential investors to ensure
the rehabilitation of those significant projects.
■ Dialogues: Benguela is blessed with a significant hydro-electrical
potential. How do you intend to develop this area?
DR: Indeed, it is one of my concerns. I would like to highlight our
electric facilities, the Catumbela river has sufficient capacity to bear
the construction of other hydro-electric plants. But besides electricity,
Benguela has the opportunity to develop the hot springs of Bolongueira
for therapeutic treatments, therefore developing its tourism, which is
essentially focused on the beaches like Praia Azul. Talking about that
prominent sector, I initiated a project to restructure two national hunting
parks, south of Dombe Grande and 100 km from Benguela city.
In addition, projects to build six four-star hotels are under way, due to
Angola’s organisation of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) championship
of 2010. This should provide a major boost to the province’s
image.
■ Dialogues: Regarding agriculture projects, what partnerships
would you like to promote within our EMRC network?
DR: Besides relying on a significant fishing industry, Benguela is an
area with very rich soils for agriculture and livestock farming. Banana
is one of the strongest products, but there is also a great quantity of
potato fields. We have developed a partnership with the American
group Chiquita to farm 3000 hectares of bananas. Here, agriculture is
developed on three levels. Firstly, at government level, and then on a
local level, focused on families: the government helps group together
100 to 200 farming families in order to maximize the productivity of
the land and make better use of irrigation. It also gives a bull to cover
traditional cattle, and focuses on research in order to make improvements
in terms of meat and milk production. The other level has to do
with the small investors that have farms of about 1000 hectares and
develop the production of cattle or horticultural projects. In another
agricultural project, the government gives small inves- tors an
amount of 25 cows and one bull to make improvements
in their livestock. At the end of four
years they have the obligation to
return those animals to the government,
which will be given to
other investors and families.
■ Dialogues: What you mentioned is part of the DAF Program,
which started in March of last year, extends over five years and is
worth 5,5 million USD. What are the future steps on the development
of the program here in Benguela?
DR: Our plan is to transform Benguela within the next 3-4 years. If we
add the program that the Central Government is implementing in the
field of power generation, this will allow the development of industries.
Besides the Sonangol refinery and the four cement factories, we are focusing
on the manufacturing of ceramics. Besides, in the growing food
industry, fruit and wheat transformation is an important value-added
activity. We intend to find partners in the fabrication of soft drinks as
well as fermented drinks. ■
14 - DIALOGUES - EMRC Quarterly - Summer 2008 - 15