S evidence of the Angolan government’s commitment to economic reform and sustainable development, solid investment laws have recently been passed to protect investor interests, and a new government agency, the National Private Investment Agency (ANIP), has been created to facilitate the investment process.

CARLOS FEIJÓ Legal Scholar and Professor

Angolan legal scholar and academic Carlos Feijó says that the new laws arose from the government’s awareness that economic development and judicial reform in Angola have to be undertaken simultaneously. He states, “The most important thing now is to create the legal framework for the public and private partnership.

“The non-intervention and deregulation process of the state must be accompanied by judicial regulation for public and private partnerships. The investor needs to have confidence in the judicial system. This is obviously the only solution for Angola.”
Following on the heels of the private investment law enactment was the creation of another new law for investor incentives that simplifies the investment process in Angola.

Mr. Feijó elaborates, “The legal environment here is that we have a very attractive investment law, a law devised especially for simplifying procedures and decreasing state intervention in the private investment process. We also have a private development law that seeks to eliminate bureaucracy. Our idea is to create a one-stop, one-shop situation – an office where the investor goes and sees all his problems solved. This is the idea that we have for ANIP.”

Mr. Ari Carvalho, ANIP Administrator, emphasizes the need for economic diversification in Angola and says the new incentives are also designed to promote employment and correct regional imbalances.

He explains, “Our responsibility is to attract more embedded investment into Angola. The new law provides specific incentives for investments in those areas where it is most needed. As well as protecting investor interests, the laws are trying to recognize those areas that have suffered because of the war, have a low presence of industry, and need development. I strongly believe that we have a very good package to offer with these new laws and incentives.”

In order to promote Angolan investment opportunities in the United States, ANIP has a representative office in Washington, D.C.