The best way to do business in Angola is to find a local distributor or representative to handle business development throughout the country. The selected distributor or representative should be financially solid, have the capacity to stock inventory and aftermarket parts, and to provide technical support for the specific products. The distributor or agent should also be able to handle the complex import process, and demonstrate strong existing end user client ties, especially if the target client is the Angolan government. U.S. companies wanting to establish strong Angola market presence also need to provide ongoing management oversight and training for the distributor/representative.
Press coverage can be another useful strategy for building market visibility in Angola. However, it is important that media relations are carefully managed so that messaging is accurately presented.
For consumer-oriented products, billboard advertising is also common as is sponsorship of popular events.
In addition, social media is widely used and a cost-effective means to advertise in Angola. Please refer to section on e-commerce for more information.
In technical and professional areas, conferences, symposiums by industry, and a limited number of trade shows provide opportunities for promotion and technical presentations that can help build market visibility and develop relationships with key buyers. With COVID-19 travel and physical meeting restrictions, virtual video conferences, webinars and other online communications tools have become a more acceptable form to interact with Angolan government officials and private sector executives.
Consistent marketing and business development efforts are key to business success in Angola. Given the relatively small size of the business and government market, building and maintaining a good reputation for the company and/or product is key due to substantial reliance on client referrals. A well selected distributor or representative can be key to this effort.
The main trade show in Angola, FILDA – the International Fair of Luanda - is normally held in July. This multi-industry show is a good platform to build market visibility, especially once an international company is established in the Angola market. Normally, the FILDA show organizer hosts other smaller trade events in a range of sectors throughout the year. Angola’s trade show schedule can be found on FILDA’s website: https://filda.co.ao/ .
Despite high inflation, among those who can afford to be selective, there is a continuing and growing appreciation in Angola for quality products. Consumers are increasingly cognizant that inexpensive products that arrive in Angola from China and other African markets generally offer a lower quality than western brands.
Angola has been an extremely expensive market. For expatriates and business travelers it was ranked among the most expensive locations in the world. However, the kwanza depreciated 30% in June 2023, reflecting a significant reduction of US dollars in the domestic foreign-exchange (FX) market. This was primarily driven by an absence in FX sales by the Angolan Treasury
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Sales Service/Customer Support
Angolan consumers are increasingly demanding better sales service and customer support, on par with what they experience in travel to Europe, South Africa, and Dubai, and respond very positively to comparable levels of business services when offered in Angola.
Companies that can provide strong customer service with post-sales value-added services, spare parts, and technical support will be competitively positioned in the Angola market. U.S. companies should consider committing the time and resources to build capacity through their appointed distributors to provide this type of quality service and support.
Listings of Angola-based law firms, accounting firms, customs brokers, and freight companies experienced in working with international companies are available from the U.S. Commercial Service in Angola.
Commercial Banks
No U.S. banks operate in Angola. Commercial banks in Angola are predominately Angolan, Portuguese, and South African. The leading Angola-based banks with international business are listed below. Several bank representative offices also exist in Angola. For a complete listing of authorized Angolan financial institutions please see the National Bank of Angola’s list of authorized financial institutions.
Banco Angolano de Investimentos, S.A. - BAI
Banco BIC, S.A. - BIC
Banco Caixa Geral Totta de Angola, S.A. - BCGTA
Banco Comercial Angolano, S.A. - BCA
Banco de Comércio e Indústria, S.A. - BCI
Banco de Fomento Angola, S.A. - BFA
Banco de Negócios Internacional, S.A. - BNI
Banco Keve, S.A. - KEVE
Banco Millennium Angola, S.A. - BMA
Banco Privado Atlântico, S.A. - BPA
Banco Sol, S.A. - BSOL
Standard Bank de Angola, S.A. - SBA
Standard Chartered Bank de Angola, S.A. - SCBA
Law Firms Based in Angola
Alexandre Pegado - Escritório de Advogados
Phone: +244 (222) 391 930; 222-397 347
Fax: +244 (222) 397 131; 222-396 295
Email: apegadolawfirm@gmail.com; apegado@netangola.com or
Arcélio Inácio de Almeida Matias – Ardja-Prestação de Serviços e
Consultoria, Lda
Cell: +244 923719169
Email: arcelio.matias@sonangol.co.ao
Languages: English, Portuguese and Spanish:
Eduardo Sambo – Escritório de Advogados
Phone: +244 923 500230; 923 726036
Fax: +244 (222) 290 224
Email: eduardosambo@hotmail.com
Elisa Rangel - Escritorio de Advogados
Phone: +244 (222) 335 814
Fax: +244 (222) 372 751
Phone: +244 939 378 652
Email: elsa.barradas@cuatrecasas.com
Fátima Freitas Advogados
Phone: +244 222 372 030 / 57 / 92, +244 222 020 559
Fax: +244 222 372 017
Email: luanda@fatimafreitas.com
FBL Advogados
In Luanda:
Phone: + 244 222 397 073 / 222 339 396 / 222 393 263
Fax: + 244 222 393 273
Email: fbl@fbladvogados.com
In Benguela:
Phone: +244 272 232 467 / +244 934512355
Email: fbl.benguela@fbladvogados.com
GLA Gabinete Legal Angola Advogados
Phone: +244 935 147 570
Fax: +244 222 443 388
Email: geral@gla-advogados.com
LCF - Legal Counsel Firm Lourdes Caposso Fernandes & Associados
Phone: + 244 408080 e + 244 923 888 555
E-mail: infolcf@lcfadvogados.com
Legal Group Africa
Phone: +244 947 326 425
Email: lga@legalgroupafrica.com
Maria José Teixeira –Advogados Associados
Phone/Fax: +244 (222) 324391
Cell: +244 923 330046; 912 501410
Email: mtadvogada@netcabo.co.ao; advogadosassociados@htomail.com
MG Advogados
Phone: +244 222337914 / 370019/26
Fax: +244 222335497
Email: lawyers@mgadvogados.org
N-Advogados Nuno Albuquerque, Deolinda Ribas Sociedade de Advogados, RL
Phone: +244 928 391 751
Email: angola@nadv.pt
Teodoro Bastos de Almeida – Advogado
Phone: +244 (222) 443 335; 222- 443 208; 222-443 306
Cell: +244 923-400 651
Fax: +244 (222) 442 564
Email: teodoroalmeida@snet.co.ao ; teodoro@fd.uc.pt
Accounting and Advisory Firms
Adam Global - Angola
Phone:+244(912)550035
Email: Ana.Rodrigues@adamglobal.com
Baker Tilly International
Phone: +351 (210) 988 710
Email: pandre@bakertillyportugal.pt; pandre@bakertilly.pt
Crowe Horwath - Angola
Phone:+244(222)333649
Fax: +244 (222) 333 806
Email: soniacostamatos@crowehorwath.ao
Deloitte – Angola
Rua. Kwame Nkrumah 10, 3º, 4º e 6º andar, Luanda
Phone: +244 923 168 100
KPMG - Angola
EdifÃcio Moncada Prestige
Rua do Assalto ao Quartel de Moncada, nº15 2º, Luanda
Phone:+244(227)280101
Fax:+244(227)280119
Email: aokpmg@kpmg.com
Ernst & Young Angola
Presidente Business Center
Largo 17 de Setembro, n0
30 Piso - Sala 341
Luanda
Phone: + 244 945 20 21 72
Email: ey.ao@pt.ey.com
PricewaterhouseCoopers (Angola)
EdifÃcio Presidente
Largo 17 de Setembro n.º 3 , 1º andar - Sala 137.
Luanda, Angola
Phone:.+244 227 286 109
Boston Consulting Angola
Avenida 4 de Fevereiro
EdifÃcio Kilamba 8°Andar
Marginal de Luanda- Ingombota
Luanda, Angola.
Phone: +244 923 167 900
McKinsey - Angola
Avenida Lenine,
Torres Oceano,
Torre A, 21ºA
Ingombota
Luanda, Angola
Phone: +244 226 425 400
Fax: +244 226 425 401
PKF - Angola
Phone: +351 213 182 720
Fax: +244 222 338 957
Email: pkfportugal@pkf.pt
Freight Companies Serving Angola
GAC – Angola
Phone:+244(222)320583/960/647
Fax: +244 (222) 323 070
Email: hugh.okerwin@gac.com
Grimaldi Group Angola
Phone:+244222310500
Email: gal@grimaldi.co.ao
MSC – Angola
Phone: +244 (222) 339 305
Email: info@mscao.mscgva.ch
Nile Dutch
Phone: + 244 (227) 326 980
Fax: + 244 (227) 326 963
Email: info.ao@niledutch.com
Panalpina
Phone: +244 (226) 422 000
Fax: +244 (222) 310 034
Email: info.angola@panalpina.com
Rangel
Phone: +244 (922) 695 616
Email: ademar.reis@rangel.com
SDV-AMI Angola Lda – Bollore Group
Phone: +244 (222) 015 725
Fax: +244 (222) 015 734
Email: sales.angola@bollore.com
Customs Brokers
Alexandre Carlos Pires Marcos
Phone: +244 (222) 350 224 / +244 (223) 456 789
Cell: +244 (915) 244 568 / +244 (930) 269 044
Email: Alexandre.marcos@acpm-despachante.com; geral@acpm-despachante.com
Helder Mateus
Phone: +244 222 100 515 / +244 222 100 529 / +244 925 485 649
Email: Geral@Heldermateus.Com
José Martins
Phone: +244 222 339 984 / +244 222 339 501 / +244 923 340 395
Email: kilengues@hotmail.com
Luis Chagas Januário
Phone: +244 (222) 327 280; +244 (222) 320 669
Cell: +244 (912) 361 068; +244 (925) 084 921; +244 (936) 322 147
Email: despachante-luisjanuario@hotmail.com
Limitations on Selling U.S. Products and Services
Private ownership is prohibited in Angola in the areas of defense, internal public order, and state security; banking activities relating to the operations of the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance; administration of ports and airports; and other areas where the law gives the Angolan government exclusive responsibility for operations. Investment in the petroleum, diamond, and financial sectors are governed by sector-specific legislation.
Principal Business Associations
American Chamber of Commerce in Angola (AmCham Angola) is a bilateral business chamber dedicated to promoting business between the United States and Angola and based in Luanda.
Angolan Industry Association (AIA) is the leading business association in Angola with nation-wide membership including both industry and agricultural sectors.
Angolan Community of Exporting and Internationalized Companies (CEEIA), established in 2013, is the association of Angolan companies with international activities and dedicated to promoting more exports and international partnerships among Angolan companies.
US-Angola Chamber of Commerce (USACC) is a bilateral business chamber promoting business between the United States and Angola with offices in both Washington, D.C. and Luanda.
Angolan Government Agencies related to business
On March 13, 2018 the government replaced the Angolan Investment and Export Promotion Agency (APIEX) with a new agency, the Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX). The new agency, which is under the Ministry of Economy, serves as a one-stop shop to promote investments and exports and the international competitiveness of Angolan companies. Its U.S. office is located at the Angolan Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Angolan Embassy in the United States – Trade Office the Angolan government’s representation in the United States promoting Angolan business.