By Sarafina Christopher
Angola has moved to fast-track implementation of a Blue Economy partnership with Bayelsa following the visit of an Angolan delegation to Gov. Douye Diri on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation was led by Angola’s Executive Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President, Mr Dionisio Da Fonseca, in Abuja.
Da Fonseca said the visit was directed by President João Lourenço to ensure that existing agreements translated into tangible economic gains.
He said the priority was to activate the sister city agreement between Bayelsa and Namibe Province, one of Angola’s leading coastal and tourism hubs.
According to him, both sides are focused on practical cooperation in fisheries development, port infrastructure, gas-based industrialisation and two-way investment.
“We are here to work together to ensure that the agreement between Bayelsa State and Namibe is implemented, especially in business, trade and investment flowing in both directions,” he said.
Da Fonseca noted that Nigeria’s support for Angola’s independence laid a solid foundation for stronger economic ties, particularly at the sub-national level.
In his response, Diri said the Blue Economy pact aligned with Bayelsa’s economic diversification drive.
He reaffirmed the state’s readiness to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Namibe Province.
The governor said the partnership would prioritise fisheries, aquaculture, marine economy, agriculture, tourism and seaport-related opportunities, with oil and gas as a possible area of collaboration.
Diri described the visit as significant, noting that many bilateral agreements between Nigeria and Angola had suffered poor implementation in the past.
He said Bayelsa was expecting a reciprocal visit from the Governor of Namibe Province, adding that earlier plans were delayed due to scheduling challenges.
The governor stressed that stronger cooperation between Bayelsa and Namibe would deepen Nigeria-Angola relations and boost intra-African trade.
He also invited the delegation to visit Yenagoa to advance concrete action on the Bayelsa-Namibe MoU. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)
