Luanda - Angola and Djibouti on Thursday sought ways to enhance sharing of experiences in port management and to boost multiple exchanges in both countries’ private business sectors.
This was discussed during a meeting on Thursday between the recently appointed Angolan ambassador to Djibouti, Miguel César Domingos Bembe, and the director of the Bilateral Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti, Mahdi Absich Bouh.
Mahdi Bouh explained that benefiting from its strategic location; Djibouti has 8 specialized ports that serve as important refueling and transshipment centres and operates as the main maritime access route to neighboring countries.
More than 10 percent of worldwide trade passes along the coast of Djibouti, which is located on one of the busiest trade routes in the world and also crosses the African continent and the Arabian Peninsula, with access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The two diplomats analyzed the state of bilateral relations, namely the political and diplomatic, defence and security, including the fight against terrorism, industry, trade and logistics, transport and infrastructure, and energy.
In the political-diplomatic field, the diplomats envisaged the negotiation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of political consultation mechanisms between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti, and the agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and service passports.
As regards the energy sector, Mahdi Absich Bouh expressed his country's interest in cooperating with Angola to benefit from its experience as an oil producer and exporter.
In the multilateral sphere, the two diplomats defended the need for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to operate as a tool to re-launch inter-African cooperation and trade.
Earlier this week, diplomat Miguel Bembe presented his Letters of Credence to Djibouti’s President Ismael Omar Guelleh, marking the start of his duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola in that East African country, with non-resident status.
Miguel Bembe, who lives in Ethiopia, where he has been Angola's ambassador and permanent representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Community for Africa since the end of April this year, took part in the 13th Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Forum of General Inspectorates of African States and Similar Institutions (FIGE).
At the event, where Angola was represented by the Inspector General of State Administration, Ângelo de Barros Veiga Tavares, who is also Vice-Chairman of the FIGE Steering Committee, it was decided that Angola should host the ninth General Assembly in 2024.
Based in Djibouti, FIGE has 20 member states, with three countries in the process of joining. LAU/AC/AMP
