Manuel Pedro Pacavira, Governor of Kwanza Norte, highlights industry as one of the most attractive areas for investors

Angola’s Kwanza Norte province occupies a special place in the heart of the central government and is considered a sort of economic model that Luanda would like to see repeated throughout the nation. The province is the power base of the ruling MPLA government, which "is a very important detail to take into account from a political point of view because it means that Kwanza Norte is the foundation of the current regime," says the governor of the province, Manuel Pedro Pacavira.
While its political clout provides the province with an influential position within national politics, it is Kwanza Norte’s economic achievements and infrastructure improvements that really make the difference when comparing it to some of Angola’s other provinces.

"From an economic point of view Kwanza Norte has many resources that have been developed, agriculture for example. We are important producers of rice, cereals, potatoes, bananas, pineapples and citrus fruits," notes Mr. Pacavira.
But Kwanza Norte is mostly known for its highly developed coffee industry and its position as the country’s top producer, which is no small task in a nation that at one time was ranked third in the world in coffee production.
"We also have dense forests and a developed timber industry. Currently Kwanza Norte is the main supplier of timber to Luanda," governor Pacavira says proudly.

There are 190 miles of asphalt roads and an important railway link

With its strategic geographical position, Kwanza Norte has good infrastructure with better roads than other provinces.

Livestock production has fallen off in recent years in the province, but measures are underway to regain its position as an important supplier to the nation.
"We think that as soon as the situation allows, we will restore the livestock population. That will mean that in the agriculture sector alone, the province will have the resources to produce corn, any kind of fruit, cattle and goats not only to ensure food self-sufficiency, but also to produce surplus for Luanda and other neighboring provinces," explains Mr. Pacavira.
And while other provinces are struggling to upgrade their infrastructure, Kwanza Norte boasts more than 300 kilometers (190 miles) of asphalt roads and an important railway link.

"But the importance of this province lies in the fact that it is a crossing point for any trip by road to Kwanza Sul, Huambo, Bie, Cunene and Namibe. All is done via Dondo, and then Kiblala, Wako Kungo and further south. To the east and Zambia you must go via N’Dalatando. Therefore, the province of Kwanza Norte is – more than any other province in the country–most privileged in terms of road accesses to the provinces in the interior and abroad. That is why I say that the province has a strategic position from the political, economic and social points of view," governor Picavira asserts.
And as the province moves to improve social, education and health services, through training and capital investments, which are limited, Kwanza Norte also identified certain sectors that governor Pacavira feels would be the most attractive to foreign investors.

Kwanza Norte is making moves to improve social, health and education services through training and investments.

"The sector that will immediately attract foreign investment is industry," Mr. Pacavira explains. "In the municipality of Cambambe there is a hydroelectric dam that supplies Luanda and two important plants that need an influx of capital. One is an old textile plant that can be rehabilitated that has original Italian equipment. I would like to see that up and running in a year and at the same time set up a clothing factory to meet the increasing needs of our population in the province. There is also a plant for spirits and wine that needs rehabilitation so we can supply the part of the population that does not have the resources to purchase the more expensive drinks that have to be imported. Our province is open to investors for these and many other projects."