Caxito - The Bengo Provincial Office for Economic and Integrated Development collected 104 million Kwanzas in 2023 from licensing companies and factories in the mineral resources, manufacturing and trade sectors.
According to the director of the office, Pedro Katendi, the sector that collected the most revenue was mineral resources, with more than 94 million Kwanzas.
He added that although the sector controlled 64 companies, only 28 were operating in 2023 and seven were licensed.
The production of construction aggregates was 958,949 cubic metres and sales totalled 563,163 cubic metres.
In the manufacturing industry, 25 factories were licensed, 17 of them are new, and 939,600 kwanzas were collected.
The official said that in 2023, the office he heads received nine proposals for new projects to be set up in the Mabubas industrial development reserve.
He said that in the year under review, another 499 companies were also licensed, which resulted in the creation of 1,246 jobs, 994 of which were for nationals and 252 for foreigners, and the office collected around eight million Kwanzas.
Pedro Katendi revealed that in 2024, the office has the challenge of attracting more investors and promoting the emergence of new commercial, industrial and mineral resource infrastructures with the aim to create more jobs.
According to the official, the Provincial Office for Economic and Integrated Development also intends to hold the 2nd social and economic forum, which could be extended to other municipalities, as well as organising the first edition of Expo Bengo and promoting the effective implementation of the Mabubas industrial development pole.
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