Angola is actively reforming its trade policies to reduce its historic dependence on oil, create a transparent investment climate, and integrate fully with regional and global markets.

• World Trade Organization (WTO): As a member of the WTO since 1996, Angola is integrated into the global rules-based trading system.
• Bilateral Agreements: Angola is actively strengthening economic ties with key partners. It has signed several Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with countries like Germany, Italy, and Portugal, and maintains a strategic Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States to enhance dialogue and deepen commercial relations.

• AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area): Angola has ratified the AfCFTA, and its national implementation strategy is being developed with the support of UNECA. This signals a strong commitment to accessing a continent-wide market and is central to its diversification goals.
• SADC (Southern African Development Community: As a member, Angola benefits from the SADC Trade Protocol, which provides preferential access to a regional market of over 340 million people..
• ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States): Membership fosters deeper trade ties and stability with its Central African neighbours.

• AIPEX(Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency: This is the key government agency acting as a one-stop shop to attract FDI and support exporters. It is central to implementing the new, more liberal investment framework.
• 2018 Private Investment Law: A landmark reform that removed the requirement for mandatory local partnerships in most sectors, opening the door for 100% foreign ownership and significantly improving the business climate.
• Tariff Policy:A new Customs Tariff Schedule has been implemented, designed to encourage local production and investment in nascent industries by increasing duties on certain finished goods that could be produced domestically

Angola is executing a clear strategy to move from a raw material exporter to a hub for processing and manufacturing, leveraging its rich natural resources far beyond crude oil.

Current Trade Snapshot:

• Primary Export:Overwhelmingly dominated by Crude Oil (approx. 90% of total exports), making economic diversification a national priority.
• Key Imports:Machinery, Vehicles, Food Products (cereals, meat), and Chemicals, revealing significant opportunities for import substitution.

• Agriculture & Agribusiness:
  • Untapped Arable Land: Boasts over 58 million hectares of agricultural land, with a focus on reviving key cash crops.
  • Value Addition:Moving beyond exporting raw crops to processing coffee, producing cereals, canning tropical fruits, and manufacturing beverages. The goal is to achieve food self-sufficiency and become a major regional food exporter.
• Mining – Beyond Extraction:
  • Diamonds: Development of the Saurimo Diamond Development Hub in the east is a strategic priority. The hub is designed to create a domestic industry for cutting and polishing, capturing a far greater share of the diamond value chain than just exporting rough stones.
  • Other Minerals: Rich in iron ore, phosphates, and granite, with growing investment in processing these for construction materials and fertilisers.
• Fisheries & Manufacturing:
  • Rich Coastal Resources: A 1,600 km coastline offers huge potential. The focus is on increasing the onshore processing of fish and production of high-value fishmeal and oils for export.
  • Industrial Growth: Promoting local manufacturing of textiles, footwear, and construction materials to supply the domestic market and reduce reliance on imports.

• The Lobito Corridor: A Regional Game-Changerg:
  • This is the most significant trade infrastructure project in the region. It involves a 1,344 km rail line being upgraded and managed by an international consortium with strong backing from the U.S. and EU.
  • It provides a fast, secure, and efficient pathway connecting Angola's Port of Lobito to the vast mineral resources of the DRC and Zambia.
  • Impact: Slashes transport times and costs, boosts Angolan port volumes, and establishes Angola as the premier gateway for trade between Central/Southern Africa and transatlantic markets.
• Streamlining Trade Processesg:
  • National Single Window: The implementation of an electronic single window system is underway. This will allow traders to submit all regulatory documents (for customs, port authorities, etc.) through a single online portal, increasing transparency and dramatically reducing bureaucracy and clearance times.
  • Customs Modernisation: Ongoing reforms to align customs procedures with international standards, improving efficiency at ports and land borders.
• Port Development: The deep-water Port of Lobito is being modernised to handle increased cargo volumes efficiently, complementing the railway and solidifying the corridor's strategic advantage.