The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rui Miguêns de Oliveira, highlighted, yesterday, in Luanda, that micro, small and medium-sized industries (MPMI) play a decisive role in creating income for families, as they are the engine of socio-economic development in the municipalities.
When speaking at the opening of the industry week “Dialogues & debates – value chains: opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized companies”, he highlighted that they allow the creation of jobs in the transformation and production of consumer goods, inputs, services and technology.
He stressed that the Angolan population is estimated at 34 million inhabitants, with an active population of around 15 million inhabitants, between 15 and 60 years of age, where industry accounts for around 4.5% of the total active population. .
He highlighted that the numbers indicate the existence of a country full of opportunities for the development of PMI.
He reinforced that the Executive, in supporting micro, small and medium-sized industries, has, through Technological Innovation of Angola-IDIIA, infrastructures available for industry, which are industrial development poles, in a total of 22 across the country , and rural industrial parks that aim to boost industry at provincial and municipal levels.
These infrastructures, he added, are supported within two important and fundamental programs for the development of the industry.
He cited, as an example, the Industrial Training Program – Formind, which aims to train human capital at a technical level for Industry, and Profir (Rural Industry Promotion Program), providing infrastructure for MPMIs.
“Within the scope of Formind, we have two training centers operating, one in Luanda, the CFTM in Cacuaco and another in Huambo, the Centro Fadário Muteka, which, in aggregate, prepared around 1,350 young people annually for the industry market”, he added.
He said it is a challenge for industries to absorb young people who are being prepared to participate in the country’s industrial development process.
Industrial Center for Advanced Technology The minister announced that next year the Industrial Center for Advanced Technology – CITAV will be inaugurated, with six technical areas and project management, in partnership with polytechnics in South Korea and financing from Eximbank of South Korea .
He explained that CITAV will have a capacity for 360 long-term students (two years), around 1,000 students in short-term training, 170 boarding students to serve the remaining provinces.
He highlighted that IDIIA has entered into a series of partnerships with companies and institutions in order to increase “on the job” industrial training, which also includes Penitentiary Services, where the production capacity of goods in the wood industry will also be increased, equipment for micro and small industries, clothing and agro-industry.
Dialogues & Debates, Value Chains, Opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized industries is the space created with the exhibition of products from six industry value chains.
The event brings together various actors from public and private institutions, academia and industry to debate the opportunities and proposals arising from the challenges that the industry sector faces.