CEOE Internacional participates in the opening day of the IMEX-Madrid 2022 Fair and meets the Angolan Minister of Industry and Commerce

Marta Blanco took part in the panel “Africa’s situation for business development,” in which the Deputy Director General for Mediterranean Countries, Africa and the Middle East of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Ana de Vicente, and the Director General of the Women for Africa Foundation, Teresa Langle, also participated.

In her speech, the President of CEOE Internacional highlighted the opportunity the event represents at a time when the circumstances exist to take action. We must be a stable, reliable and enduring partner for Africa, she stressed, adding that the continent has enormous potential because of its growing population and urbanisation and the region’s infrastructure and investment needs. She also recalled that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will create legal certainty and stability among African countries.

She also highlighted the resources available from the Government and at EU level on which Spanish companies can rely, such as the Global Gateway. She also touched upon the importance of information in attracting capital. This information is channelled by Spanish institutions and the CEOE through the organisation of various business meetings.

She also pointed out the importance of the policies implemented by the various African governments, which are key to promoting a good regulatory framework and legal environment, ratifying international conventions and improving local financial markets.

Marta Blanco insisted that it is essential to develop as far as possible the financial instruments of various Spanish bodies, such as FIEM, CESCE and COFIDES, and to take advantage of existing resources through better coordination at the national and European level.

Finally, she stressed the need to work on training African people, especially women and the young and, in line with the Director General of the Women for Africa Foundation, she recalled that the future of the continent cannot be understood without African women.

Meeting with the Angolan Minister 

After the round table, the President of CEOE International held a meeting with the Angolan Minister of Industry and Trade, Victor Fernandes. At the meeting, the minister highlighted the country’s efforts to diversify its economy, for which it requires investment in sectors such as agriculture, industry and tourism. He also added that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is available to Spanish companies to assist them with their investment plans in the country.

For her part, Marta Blanco explained to the Minister the structure and workings of the CEOE and the International Relations Committee and recalled that the CEOE was among the business delegation on the trip made by the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to Angola in 2021. Finally, she insisted on the importance of having information about opportunities in Angola and the need to diversify the number of Spanish companies operating in the country.