SONAIR’S Houston Express is the only regular passenger flight between Angola and the U.S.

LTHOUGH relations were strained between the U.S. and Angola during the Cold War, today the two countries maintain solid commercial and diplomatic ties. In 2002, 42% of Angolan exports went to the United States and Angola accounts for 16.7% of all U.S. imports from Africa. Further strengthening of these ties is likely in the future as the U.S. increasingly chooses Angolan oil over Persian Gulf options.

The U.S. officially recognized the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) as the legitimate government of Angola on May 19, 1993 and since then has been actively involved in Angola’s transition to peace.

In October 1999, the Clinton Administration inaugurated the Bilateral Consultative Commission with senior Angolan officials, with the aim of expanding the U.S.-Angolan relationship. U.S. Ambassador to Angola Christopher Dell says, “Angola, having chosen the path of democracy and a macro-economy for itself, needs partners in order to transform a clear intention into a reality. The role we play is in helping them to do that.”

Trade between the two countries is substantial; in addition to oil, U.S. imports from Angola include chemicals, minerals, and metals. In 1998, U.S. exports to Angola totalled approximately US$351.6 million, among which figured transportation equipment, machinery, and agricultural and electronic products. The U.S. private sector has invested more than US$4 billion to date in Angola, marking the country as one of the U.S.’ largest investment sites in all of sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2001, Angola was the U.S.’ second largest non-OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) supplier of crude oil. The increasing importance of Angolan oil to American interests, and more specifically interests based in Houston, the energy capital of the nation, was evidenced by the visit of Houston’s mayor, Mr. Lee P. Brown, to Luanda in September 2003.

Ambassador Dell remarks, “With all the statistics and facts, Angola is the destination for U.S. foreign investment now, more than any other place on the continent. It’s the hot player in the petroleum industry in the world today.”

San Francisco-based ChevronTexaco operates Angola’s most productive oil patch in the north-western enclave of Cabinda, and is the largest foreign company in the country. ChevronTexaco has had a presence in Angola since 1930 and has been involved in many aspects of the country’s social and economic development.
In alliance with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Program, ChevronTexaco has recently committed US$10 million over five years for the support and training of enterprise development in Angola, especially private sector agricultural initiatives.

Managing Director James Blackwell elaborates, “For us, community affairs have always been a big part of our company heritage here, and especially now with peace we have been pushing our projects into the interior and trying to make our impact more visible. We are focusing on things like education and micro-businesses to help the country diversify. We are starting to take a look at sustainable development type initiatives – trying to see how we can get businesses started here that are self-sustaining. It’s a huge country with not too many people and with all kinds of resources, so there is a lot of potential here to diversify.”

Further signs of deepening U.S.-Angolan relations are the recent establishment of a direct air link between Luanda and Houston, as well as Angolan participation in the U.S.’ Safe Skies initiative. SONAIR operates the Houston Express - the only regular passenger flight between Angola and the U.S.

SONAIR President António dos Santos Domingos states, “The Houston Express reinforces relations between the two countries. It’s vital that Texans from Houston know Luanda and people from Luanda know Houston. If you come to Luanda, you will see that Angolans are making a tremendous effort to change the country into a better place to live.”