The African nation has indicated it will no longer wait for Brazilian firms to develop its agricultural sector, pointing to successful partnerships with Chinese companies.
Brazil pressed to keep pace with Chinese investment in Angola
Article by:
PUBLISHED:
Luanda is signalling an end to its patience with Brazil’s promised investment in Angola, especially in the agricultural sector. Agriculture minister Isaac dos Anjos told an agribusiness forum in the capital that the country would no longer “beg” Brazilian firms to take part in local projects, warning that it is prepared to seek other international partners if current hesitation continues.
According to media reports, the ultimatum follows significant investment in Angola from other nations. In July 2025, Angola finalised contracts valued at US$350 million with Chinese enterprises, including Citic Construction and Sinohydro, to develop 130,000 hectares for soybean, corn and grain cultivation.
[See more: Brazil on track for record low in Amazon deforestation]
By contrast, a 2025 agreement with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation – intended to train local technicians with a planned investment of approximately US$1.94 million – has shown no progress.
Investment in Angola: urgent need
The urgency is driven by a national strategy to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil – a priority for a country of 36 million people, where 62 percent of the population is under the age of 24.
Currently, Angola imports approximately US$1.4 billion in food annually, despite possessing 36 million hectares of arable land. At present, only about 6 million hectares are farmed by families, while companies cultivate fewer than 1 million hectares.
The government is now positioning agriculture as a new economic frontier for investment in Angola, offering land and tax incentives to developers. This includes the proposed Terralunda Project in Lunda Norte, which aims to develop 20,000 hectares between 2027 and 2030 with an estimated investment of US$83.2 million.
