Angolan President calls for a united drive to bridge Africa’s infrastructure qgapj

From BUUMBA CHIMBULU in Luanda, Angola

ANGOLA President João Lourenço has called for a renewed continental commitment to financing infrastructure as the foundation for Africa’s integration, industrialisation and sustainable growth.
Speaking in Luanda during the official opening of the 3rd Summit on Infrastructure Financing in Africa yesterday, President Lourenço urged African nations and financial institutions to work collectively to close the continent’s enormous infrastructure deficit, estimated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) at between US$130 billion and US$170 billion annually.
“We have gathered here in Luanda not merely to discuss figures, projects, or financial mechanisms, but above all to reaffirm our shared vision of a connected, modern, and resilient Africa,” President Lourenço said, who is also the current Chairperson of the African Union (AU).
He stressed that Africa must capitalise on its young and innovative population, abundant natural resources, and the growing need for market integration to become a key driver of global economic growth.
“Our ambition is great. We aim to build the infrastructure that will sustain technological development, electrification, and industrialisation across our countries and our continent, ensuring a better future for our youth and generations to come,” he declared.
The Summit, held under the theme of accelerating investment for Africa’s connectivity and competitiveness, brings together heads of state, government officials, development financiers, and private investors.
It is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which seeks to promote continental integration and sustainable economic transformation.
President Lourenço said the Summit would serve as a platform to formulate policy commitments and mobilise financial mechanisms to implement key projects under PIDA.
“The Luanda Summit must mark another step in our collective journey toward the realisation of the African Union’s infrastructure agenda,” he said.
“It should also help us strengthen cooperation with pan-African financial institutions and address the negative perceptions of risk that often distort the real potential of African economies.”
A central outcome of the Summit will be the adoption of the “Luanda Declaration”, which will be submitted to the African Union for consideration.
The declaration is expected to set concrete commitments to enhance African-led financing mechanisms and harmonise national efforts in mobilising both internal and external resources for infrastructure projects.
Highlighting Angola’s national experience, President Lourenço said his country’s own post-war reconstruction had been anchored in large-scale investment in infrastructure, from roads and airports to energy, ports, and telecommunications.
He noted that Angola was currently expanding its national road network, constructing new airports, and modernising major ports, including the deep-water port of Caio in Cabinda.

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