site.btaForeign Minister Talks with Angolan President

November 16 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and
 Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva talked with Angola's
President Joao Lourenco on November 15 during an official visit
to Angola, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry reported. The meeting
was part of a series of talks which Zaharieva held in Namibia
and Angola between November 13 and 15 in a bid to give a fresh
impetus to Bulgaria's relations with sub-Saharan Africa.

Lourenco said Zaharieva's visit will revive and reinforce
bilateral relations. He noted that not only his External
Relations Minister Manuel Domingos Augusto but also all other
members of his government are available to help promote
relations with Bulgaria.

Zaharieva conveyed greetings from the Bulgarian president and
prime minister and invited President Lourenco to visit Bulgaria.
 Lourenco accepted the invitation right away and asked the
competent agency to plan his trip.

The guest said: "We would like to restart our relations and
bring our businesses here. We welcome your efforts for reforms
and economic diversification."

Lourenco thanked for the appreciation of the reforms led by him
and noted that they may seem painful at present but he hopes
that their positive effect will be felt soon.

After elections in August 2017, Joao Lourenco replaced Jose
Eduardo dos Santos, who had served as president of Angola for 38
 years. As part of the government's efforts to develop other
sectors besides the oil industry, a new private investment law
has been drafted with the aim to facilitate foreign direct
investment. In late 2018, Angola signed a three-year agreement
with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stipulating that the
country will receive 3.7 billion US dollars in support of its
reforms.

Zaharieva hailed the agreement with the IMF, describing it as
essential for attracting foreign investors. She said: "I am
certain that you will have a friend in the new IMF leader
Kristalina Georgieva [who is Bulgarian]. As an Eastern European,
 she is aware how difficult the reforms can be at the
beginning."

Zaharieva and her Angolan counterpart Manuel Domingos Augusto
told President Lourenco that a delegation of Angolan experts
will travel to Bulgaria to present opportunities for trade and
investment in the African country. The areas with the biggest
potential for partnership are mining, medicines, agriculture,
high technology and the defence industry. RY/VE

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