ANGOLA, 04 MAY 2005
Details and Press Materials
The Commission Report was formally launched in Luanda (Angola)
on Wednesday 04th of May 2005 during a joint ceremony in which
the United Nations and the World Bank presented their respective
reports entitled “Unleashing Entrepreneurship:
Making Business Work for the Poor” and
“World Development Report 2005: A Better
Investment Climate for Everyone”, both
advocating for a strong private sector agenda.
The ceremony was co-chaired by the Minister of Planning,
H.E. Ms. Ana Dias Lourenço, the United
Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative,
Mr. Pierre-François Pirlot, the World
Bank Country Director, Mr. Laurence Clarke,
and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute
for Private Investment, Mr. Armando Cústodio.
Participants included various Ministers, senior representatives
from the public sector, business sector, civil society, academia,
UN Agencies, donor community and media. More than 100 participants
attended the opening ceremony and listened to the presentation
of the reports made by renown Angolan economists, Messrs.
José Cerqueira and Emílio
Moreso Grioñ.
Mr. Pierre-François Pirlot, UN Resident
Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, stressed the
importance of the private sector to support Angola’s
post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts. He noted
that while the private sector is a strategic partner in the
country’s fight against poverty, the Government has
the responsibility to create an enabling environment to support
the development of a strong, dynamic and sustainable private
sector. Mr. Pirlot noted that the implementation
of the Angola Enterprise Programme “AEP”,
a Public-Private Partnership between the Government of Angola,
ChevronTexaco and UNDP to support the development of the Angolan
Micro and Small Enterprise Sector is a first step in that
direction.
Mr. Laurence Clarke, World Bank Country
Director, emphasized the importance given by both the World
Bank and the United Nations to the role of the private sector
in the development process, noting that a favorable investment
climate has a great – direct and indirect – impact
on growth and poverty reduction. Mr. Clarke
noted that after almost 30 years of war, the huge reconstruction
efforts are far beyond the sole Government’s reach,
requiring the support of all Angola’s friends and development
partners, including a responsive and strong private sector.
The Minister of Planning, H.E. Ms. Ana Dias Lourenço,
welcomed the joint launching of the two reports and noted
that for Angola the study of these reports is extremely relevant
since they present lessons learnt, case studies and policy
proposals that need to be known and adapted to the reality
of the country. The Angolan Government is well aware about
the importance of the competitiveness of the private sector
for the development of the country and since the achievement
of Peace in 2002 progress can be witnessed in many areas presented
in the United Nations and World Bank reports.
Ms. Ana Dias Lourenço concluded her
opening speech saying that “There is a total synchrony
between the proposals and suggestions made by the United Nations
and the World Bank and those of the Angolan Government, and
therefore it is in these directions that Angola will direct
its strategic options”.
During the second semester of 2005 UNDP Angola and its partners
will pursue the dissemination of the Commission Report through
presentations and discussions in Universities and selected
provinces.
View the Powerpoint
Presentation
Presented by the Commission Report in Portuguese made by
National Consultant, Dr. Emilio Moreso Grioñ
Press
05 May 2005
Angolan Press Agency ("ANGOP")
"UN and WB Release Report on Private Sector
Development "
05 May 2005 Angolan Press Agency
("ANGOP")
Previous press clipping in Portuguese
05 May 2005 Official Daily Newspaper (“Jornal de Angola")
Two press clippings in Portuguese
07 May 2005 Private Weekly Newspaper (“Folha 8”)
Press clipping in Portuguese
|
