South China Morning Post SPECIAL REPORT INSIDE EIGHT-PAGE SPONSORED SECTION IN CO-OPERATION WITH ASIA BUSINESS UNIT LTD.

AT A As economic development begins to take off in earnest in this GLANCE northern Angolan province, and as its oil production is stepped up, it is clear that this is the right moment for China to explore and enhance its relations with and participation in Cabinda CabindaFor further information contact: 1-7 Harley Street, London W1G 9QD - Tel: +44 207 291 4402 - Fax: +44 207 636 8789 - [email protected] - www.asiabusinessunit.com Carrying forward Oil-rich Angola grows Cabinda’s legacy

 LOCATION: of progress An enclave of Angola, separated from the stronger and more stable CABINDA’S PROVINCIAL Gover- province, in which its consid- mainland by the nor, Mawete João Baptista, erable mineral wealth is now Democratic Republic of has been on the job since No- being used to improve the Congo and the Congo vember, 2009, and has spent lives of the region’s people. In River the time since he moved into the time since the agreement the position getting to know was signed, Cabinda has  CAPITAL: each and every day the region, its local leaders, made great strides in that di- Cabinda City and the problems that need to rection, but more must be  POPULATION: ANGOLA has the potential to be one be dealt with to continue the done and Cabindans need to Approximately of Africa’s richest, most successful work of improving the lives of do their part with a feeling of 300,000, of which half countries. Its 18 provinces boast the province’s residents. solidarity. is rural and the other enormous mineral wealth and the In recent months Baptista The welfare of the people half urban country is already the second-biggest has held meetings with local has been the government’s oil producer on the continent, after chieftains, the leaders of a priority since the start, and it  INDUSTRY: Nigeria. provincial banking group and has demonstrated that focus Oil extraction and Following the peace agreement other regional organisations, for years. Cabinda’s children refining, construction in 2002 that ended the 27-year civ- and in February he started a have especially benefited materials, food il war, President José Eduardo dos policy of meeting with citizens from these efforts, as new produce, wines, palm Santos and his government have and civil servants every Tues- schools have been built all oil and palm oil worked diligently through trying day in order to learn about and around the province. products, tobacco, times to find internal solutions that help solve the problems facing Students every year are giv- crude rubber, hardwoods, timber and have brought peace to the country Cabindans and the regional en uniforms and school sup- furniture and promoted its presence at the in- government. plies, and every day they’re ternational level. Baptista’s government has given a nutritious snack. En-  AGRICULTURE: Those efforts have already made identified several priorities, suring their health is a major Mainly bananas, a huge difference in the lives of or- and has placed improving the goal as well, and the province coffee, cacao and dinary Angolans. Gross domestic province’s healthcare system has established mobile health cassava product has grown rapidly, at an av- right at the top of the list. clinics that go from school to erage pace of more than 15% from “We’re going to open hospi- school, giving kids check-ups.  AREA: 7,823 km2 2004 to 2007, and more than 10% in tals and medical clinics to There have been polio vac- (3,020 sq mi) 2008, before contracting slightly in treat malaria, tuberculosis, di- cine campaigns, and children 2009 and 2010. The economy will ex- arrhoea and other illnesses, receive medicines to protect  MUNICIPALITIES: pand 4.8% this year and a further and provide women with ac- them against parasites and Belize, Buco Zau, 7.4% in 2011, according to the Econ- ceptable conditions at mater- other ailments. Making sure Cabinda and Cacongo omist Intelligence Unit. nity wards around the region,” they have healthy teeth has Dos Santos’s economic Baptista said during a speech been the focus of another pro-  FOUNDED: 1885, by Portuguese team has also had great suc- in February. gramme that provides every explorers cess in fighting inflation, The Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the World, or Nossa Senhora Rainha do Mundo in Portuguese, provides a pleasant His goal is always to offer child with a dental hygiene kit. which dispropor- backdrop for this sunny square in the provincial capital the region’s residents the Cabinda’s adults have been  INDEPENDENCE: tionately hurts the best, most efficient public ser- in need of help too, and the 1975. Cabinda was the poor by reducing the lion. Angolans have the country’s iron mining infra- der, and Cuando Cubango, with its great tourist potential. Huila’s pic- vices possible. He recently government has not forgotten scene of heavy value of their already taken note of all these structure, but the industry has been abundant wildlife. They’re also where turesque tablelands, small moun- told Cabindans that he plans them. Adult schooling has fighting during the war meagre income and sav- efforts and shown their making a comeback in the past few much of the country’s under-exploited tains, valleys and rushing streams to oversee the operation of been funded to educate peo- for independence from ings. Price increases support for the govern- years. mineral wealth lies, with the impor- and rivers provide many sites that public companies more close- ple who were unable to go to Portugal (1961-75) plunged from an annual rate ment in recent elec- Diamond production, though great- tant exception of oil. visitors might like to see. ly, to make sure they’re man- school as children because of of 325% in 2000 to less than tions. ly reduced by the war, has been an- Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul are No discussion of Angola’s aged correctly and for the the civil conflict. A special ef-  GEOGRAPHY: Largely tropical forest 15% in 2010. The governing party other success story since the end of both diamond-mining centres, while provinces would be complete with- benefit of the people of the fort is being made to help rein- One of the government’s sig- is the Popular Move- the conflict. Angola is already the Uíge has deposits of copper and out mentioning Cabinda. Cabinda is province. tegrate the fighters from the  RELIGION: 74.9% nature efforts has been a na- ment for the Liberation world’s sixth-largest diamond pro- cobalt. Moxico has the country’s sec- the small, oil-rich part of Angola that Catholic tional reconstruction pro- of Angola, or the MPLA. ducer, according to Endiama, the ond-biggest timber industry, after is separated from the rest of Ango- gramme whose objective is The group has ruled the state-owned monopoly. Cabinda, and also contains exploitable la by a 25-mile-wide strip of the De-  ETHNIC GROUPS: Bawoyo, Bacongo, to modernise the country’s country since the end Angola’s 18 provinces offer mar- deposits of copper, gold, diamonds, mocratic Republic of Congo. The Babaling, Bassundi, infrastructure after the war. of the armed conflict in vellous diversity. The seven provinces uranium and other substances. province, which is also rich in other Bavili and Bacotche The goal of the projects funded by the 2002, and its efforts have won the along the country’s 1,000-mile-long Other inland provinces include natural resources, has undergone a programme is to rebuild Angola’s strong support of Angolans. The par- coast on the Atlantic Ocean range Kwanza Norte, one of Angola’s rich- huge change for the better since  CLIMATE: biggest and most important infra- ty won the national elections in Sep- 2006, when a peace agreement with Equatorial climate, the structure assets, with the ultimate tember of 2008 with about 80% of a separatist group was signed. average temperature objective of improving the quality of the vote, a huge margin signalling Cabinda has hosted Portuguese, Cabinda is Angola’s biggest oil- being 25ºC (77ºF), life of the country’s residents. to the rest of the world that Angola producing province, with most of with an altitude of 209 The programme has been very is a stable democracy, dedicated to Dutch and English logging camps, that production coming from off- metres (686 feet) successful in spurring the rapid ac- improving the lives of its citizens. trading posts and palm oil processing shore wells. Cabinda keeps 10% of celeration of economic growth. When Most of the economic growth the oil income generated by the off- Projects to feed, clothe and equip schoolchildren are now underway  GOVERNOR: Mawete João Baptista the country gained its independence recorded in recent years has come factories over the years. Now, oil is shore oilrigs that produce about half from Portugal in 1975, it possessed from the country’s oil production, of Angola’s total oil output. That rev- As part of his intention to separatist groups that laid one of Africa’s best and most exten- which represents about 85% of GDP. the magnet for international investors enue, combined with wise gover- make the provincial govern- down their arms with the sign- OUR TEAM sive road networks. Rebuilding the The government is aware of the coun- nance on the part of the leaders in ment more responsive to local ing of the peace agreement. IN CABINDA: country’s transport arteries is now try’s dependence on oil, and the need from the lush jungles of Cabinda and est agricultural areas, producing corn, Luanda, Angola’s capital, and in Cabin- needs and events, Baptista Reintegration was a main Brian Christinakis, a priority because of their impor- for a more varied economy to spur Zaire provinces in the north to the peanuts, pineapples, peas, sweet da City, are reshaping the province. was quick to promise support promise made by the central Andrea Soifer and tance to moving construction ma- new job creation, and has been work- plains and deserts that predominate potatoes and a variety of beans. It is Angola has made great progress to the victims of March’s tor- government to the sepa- Emma Stephan terials for other projects around the ing to promote other industries, in- in the southern province of Namibe. also the home to the country’s largest under the governance of President rential rains that destroyed 65 ratists, along with promising countryside. cluding tourism, mining and agri- Bengo, Benguela and Kwanza Sul hydroelectric station at the dam at dos Santos, and has already begun homes in the Cabindan town Cabinda certain special rights A special thanks to the There are other projects that will culture. are known for their beautiful beach- Cambambe, which supplies power to play a bigger part in international of Caio Litoral. and guaranteeing Cabindans Government of President help Angolans even more directly. Before the civil war that began in es, with Bengo closest to the Luan- to local residents and businesses. affairs. As football fans already know, Baptista brings a great deal positions in the president’s Dos Santos and the Angolan One of the government’s most am- 1975, following the country’s inde- da capital district. Huambo and Bie provinces have Angola hosted the CAN2010 African of experience to his posting. cabinet. Embassy in Beijing, China for bitious programmes aims to build pendence from Portugal, Angola was The inland provinces also boast excellent hydroelectric potential be- football championship tournament He was governor of Uíge To date the central govern- their support and one million new houses around the an iron ore exporter and a diamond beauty, for example in the dense rain cause of the numerous rivers that this year, which was won by Egypt province immediately before ment has been diligent about collaboration in this report country by 2012, for about $50 bil- producer. The war destroyed most of forests of Uíge, along the Congo bor- cross them, while Huila province has on January 31 in Luanda. taking the same job in Cabin- fulfilling its responsibilities da, and before that he was An- under the MOU. The govern- gola’s ambassador to the De- ment has budgeted funds to mocratic Republic of Congo carry out two of the most im- (DRC) for ten years. Cabinda is portant tasks remaining, ‘This province is an increasingly peaceful place to live and work’ surrounded on three sides by which are helping fighters DRC, so his knowledge of the from the Front for the Libera- THE PROVINCEof Cabinda has a long 2006, leaving the entire country at been diligent about fulfilling its re- neighbouring country can be tion of the Enclave of Cabinda and fascinating history, with the peace. sponsibilities under the MOU, ac- particularly useful to the return to civilian life, and help- area that now constitutes the The Memorandum of Understanding cording to Antonio Bento Bembe, the province. ing refugees still living in near- province showing some political (MOU) signed on August 1, 2006 by head of the Forum. Baptista’s ethnic back- by countries return to the cohesion since it was a group of the government and the group rep- The province’s people are committed ground, from the Bacongo province. principalities associated with the resenting the separatists, the to forming an integral part of Ango- group that is present in Cabin- A programme to help fight- Kongo kingdom in the 1500s. That Cabinda Forum for Dialogue, marked la’s future. Voters turned out in large da, should help the governor ers handicapped by the war was when an adventurer named the beginning of a new era for the numbers to participate in the Sep- gain the sympathy of many of find jobs has been successful, Diogo Cao was sent by the Por- province, in which its considerable tember 2008 election, which was the province’s residents. buying taxis that are shared tuguese king to trade gifts with the mineral wealth can now be used to judged by European Union observers After the long, post-inde- by various former fighters, and Kongo king, an exchange that be- improve the lives of the region’s to be “peaceful and orderly,” as well pendence period of civil strife supplying others with industri- gan the European country’s long people. as transparent, though organisational in Cabinda and the rest of An- al equipment they can use to history with Cabinda, which be- Four years ago, the provincial gov- problems caused a few polling stations gola, the government is seri- start up their own businesses. came an important trading post ernment defined programmes with to stay open for a second day to per- ous about its responsibility to Of course, the government’s over the centuries. three main priorities: providing mit all voters to cast their ballots. provide its citizens with the programmes to improve the Cabinda and Angola eventually be- potable water throughout the Political parties were able to carry necessities of life, including well-being of Cabinda’s popula- come colonies which were governed province, providing electricity, and out their activities without any im- political, social and economic tion extends far beyond build- as separate entities by the Por- resolving people’s fundamental pediment or irregularity, a strong stability, healthcare, educa- ing schools and clinics. Build- tuguese until 1956, when they were health and education problems. indication that democracy is now a tion, and the opportunity to ing up the province’s transport united and governed together un- The government has made great fact in the country. earn a living. and sanitation infrastructure til 1975, when Angola gained its in- progress since then, increasing With a population of over 350,000, the city of Cabinda boasts a growing industrial sector with a strong workforce The big winner in the elections was Cabinda has now enjoyed also helps to foment stability dependence following the Carna- electricity output to 62 megawatts the governing party, the MPLA, which more than three years of rela- in the region. tion Revolution that overthrew Por- per day from four in 2002, boost- ity that the peace process brought positive sign for Cabinda as it ues of democracy, social justice won about 80% of the vote at the tive peace following the sign- It also establishes the nec- tugal’s dictatorship. ing water output to 920 cubic me- to Cabinda. moves forward. and respect for human rights.” national level, with the biggest op- ing of the Memorandum of Un- essary ingredients for the Angola then suffered through 27 tres per hour, from 120 cubic me- In August 2009 the province cele- According to the provincial agency Reintegration was one of the main position party, UNITA, gaining 10%. derstanding (MOU) on August provincial government’s years of civil war, and in Cabinda the tres before, and getting all the brated the second anniversary of in charge of helping reintegrate the promises made by the central gov- In Cabinda, the result was a bit dif- 1, 2006 by the government biggest goal: to transform central government also faced a province’s children into the school the peace agreement. The Chief of former separatist fighters into the ernment to the Cabinda Forum for Di- ferent, as the MPLA won 63% and and the group representing Cabinda over the next four to separatist movement. The war in system. Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces province’s civil society, “this is an alogue, along with promising special Unita was supported by 31%. The the separatists, the Cabinda ten years into a province of Angola ended with an accord in The province’s oil wealth has helped said in October 2009 that the irreversible process that removes rights and guaranteeing Cabindans big turnout shows that Cabinda is Forum for Dialogue. great economic importance, 2002, and the Cabindan separatists make those advances possible, province is now enjoying a calm all negative factors from the past, positions in the president’s cabinet. now more united than ever with the That agreement marked the integrally strategic for Angola agreed to put down their arms in and so have the peace and stabil- and stable environment, another to build a nation united in the val- To date the central government has rest of Angola. beginning of a new era for the beyond oil. 2 SPONSORED FEATURE DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST End of war means beginning of growth Peace has been achieved in the Angolan province, bringing with it new economic growth and FDI

ANGOLA’S history since gaining The US has since then been ac- liter water tank in the Cabindan train farmers to improve produc- pation in government and to make in the province of Cabinda, with the US worked consistently to- independence from Portugal in tively contributing to development village of Mandarin, and in im- tivity and quality, and to help set local governments more efficient funding of more than $8 million ward that goal, and that work will 1975 has largely been about civ- in Cabinda. USAID has agreed to proving local roads. up warehousing and distribution as they work to meet citizens’ to improve local administrators’ continue under President Barack il wars and separatist movements. continue funding a non-govern- “This agreement we’re signing infrastructure. The programme needs. ability to plan, budget, implement Obama, according to US Ambas- Josefina Pitra Diakite, After the two main groups that mental organisation called Search today to support Search for Com- is expected to create 5,000 new The programme operates in and oversee local development sador Dan Mozena. Angolan Ambassador to the US had been fighting signed a peace for Common Ground that is help- mon Ground’s programme is al- jobs spread across 1,000 farms. several Angolan provinces, and programmes. Angola, and in particular, Cabin- agreement in 2002, the country ing to reduce conflict in the so an opportunity to commemo- The goal is for at least some of the was first launched in the country An interesting project started da, are the sites of some of the has had the opportunity to move province while also improving in- rate our mutual commitment for extra food produced to be sold to in 2006, and funded by Chevron biggest investments in oil made Secretary of forward and rebuild the damage frastructure. the development of Cabinda,” said Chevron’s Malongo oil terminal, through the Cabinda Agribusiness by US companies abroad, and the done by the conflict. USAID agreed to increase its Susan Brems, the then-director of located onshore in Cabinda. The US has Development Alliance (CADA), is new administration will want to State Clinton President José Eduardo dos funding of the group to $600,000, USAID, during the signing. “Chevron is determined to in- helping to start up a local honey- work to expand investments in- Santos and his government have from $490,000 in the previous USAID is also working with oth- crease its purchase of supplies proven its producing industry. As part of the to other economic sectors, the has given worked non-stop to improve the two years, after judging that the er groups, including Chevron and from Angolan companies as much programme, CADA has brought in ambassador explains. lives of Angolans since the peace NGO had managed the original its partners in the Block Zero oil as possible,” says Alan Kleier, gen- commitment to experts to train beekeepers and Angola can also play a larger Angola an ‘A’ agreement was signed on April 4, funds satisfactorily. field, to help improve the lives of eral director of Chevron’s unit in teach them how to build and main- role in the rest of Africa, Mozena 2002. Even with the signing of Search for Common Ground Cabindans. The oil companies Angola. “Companies here have Cabinda through tain hives. says. It has one of the continent’s for everything that agreement, however, the cen- holds seminars and other meet- working on the block agreed to benefited in that way.” various USAID All of these efforts to help An- biggest and most professional tral government still had one ings intended to help people find contribute $3 million, and USAID USAID and several partners al- gola are part of the US’s desire to armies, and so has the ability to it is doing armed conflict to settle, in the oil- peaceful ways to resolve conflicts, $1 million, to a project to promote so participate in the Municipal programmes and improve relations with this key play an important part in peace- rich Cabinda province. and has also participated in fund- commercial agriculture. Development Programme, which African country. During the ad- keeping tasks in various con- Angolan Ambassador Josefina Pitra When the peace agreement be- ing the construction of a 25,000- The money is being used to is intended to promote partici- funding ministration of George W. Bush, flicts. Diakite speaks about her country’s tween the Angolan central gov- progress and bilateral relations with ernment and the Cabindan sepa- the US. ratists was finally signed in 2006, it opened the door for foreign com- What are your views on Angola’s panies to come to the province growth prospects for this year and and seek out potentially lucrative next? investments. I think the crisis that the oil sec- President dos Santos sent a tor faced, between the reduction of handpicked team to negotiate the its prices in the international arena peace pact, and it took them two and the global economic crisis, in a years to reach an agreement with way helped the Angolan govern- the leaders of the separatist group. ment in terms of thinking to engage The province is already reaping the in the diversification of its economy benefits of the newfound stability. as well as the recovery and mod- The US has long had commercial ernisation of infrastructure. Infra- relations with Angola, based ini- structure has recovered, in terms of tially on interest in the African construction, rehabilitation of country’s abundant oil and gas re- roads, education, agriculture, sources, but more recently on the healthcare and housing. desire to help spread peace and The government pledged to build development across the continent. one million new homes between American oil companies began 2009 and 2012. Also, the diversifi- their operations in Angola while it cation that is happening is not limit- was still a Portuguese colony, and ed only to Luanda, or even the main that involvement continued after towns like Benguela, Cabinda and independence in 1975 and dur- Huambo or Huíla; infrastructure is ing the civil conflict that wracked being improved everywhere. the country in the following decades. What is your outlook on US-Angola The 2006 Memorandum of Un- relations under the Obama-Biden derstanding signed by the Cabin- administration? dan separatist forces and Ango- Bilateral relations are very good la’s central government finally at this point and have developed brought an end to the conflict in even faster than we’d expected. the province, an advance the US Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE strongly supported, calling it a dos Anjos made an official visit to “significant step” towards peace. the US and Secretary Clinton ex- “For the people of Cabinda, this pressed that the US wants to be a Memorandum of Understanding part of Angola’s rehabilitation, re- is more than just a document on construction and the building of the peace and reconciliation,” the ‘New Angola’. In August 2009, Sec- White House said in a statement retary Clinton visited Angola first on released at the time of the sign- her African trip; not because it ing. “It is the promise of econom- starts with an ‘A’, she said, but be- ic development and increased po- cause Angola is getting an ‘A’ in litical influence.” Cabindans now enjoy pleasant public areas thanks to public works projects everything it is doing. No stranger to foreign investment Cabinda has long had an international presence on and off her shores CABINDA is open for business struction of a maritime water Estimates of the onshore re- ed, has already begun explo- and looking for investors. The testing facility. The local gov- serves in Cabinda vary, but ex- ration in other areas of the region boasts abundant natur- ernment and the Fishing Min- perts are very optimistic that province. al resources that can contribute istry are also contributing to the the region contains large re- Cabinda’s, and Angola’s, oil to Cabinda’s economic growth project, which will carry out bi- serves, possibly even larger wealth has attracted investors and companies’ bottom lines. ological, chemical and heavy than the proven deposits off- from all around the world. Chi- Despite Cabinda’s many oth- metal testing of the seawater in shore. That has prompted some nese companies are also very er resources, petroleum has long the region. analysts to dub the region the interested in the area, and have been the focus of foreign in- For decades, most of the oil pro- ‘Kuwait of Africa’. long been present all around vestment in the province, and duced in Cabinda came from off- One field, called Massambala- the country. that will remain the case for shore wells because of security 1, was estimated last year to Earlier this year, China Pe- years to come. Angola is after concerns that prevented investors contain 170 million barrels of troleum and Chemical (Sinopec) all Africa’s second-biggest oil from exploring onshore areas. Now oil, more than five times the signed an agreement with So- producer, after Nigeria and ahead that peace has come to Angola, amount originally thought. Roc nangol to buy a stake in Ango- of Libya, and Cabinda has long more is being spent to identify Oil of Australia, with a 60% stake la Block 18, a deepwater well been the most important region promising areas and to develop in the Cabinda South block that has been in operation since for the country’s petroleum in- any interesting discoveries. where Massambala-1 is locat- 2007. dustry. Currently, the bulk of the re- gion’s oil production comes from offshore platforms, in the areas With peace has come increased economic stability in Cabinda known as Block Zero and Block 14. Block Zero is one of the coun- try’s most productive areas, pumping about 370,000 barrels The province benefits from the per day in 2007. Tombua Landana, an ambi- tious project which includes the construction of one of the tallest banking boom structures on the planet, pro- duced its first oil in September of last year and is expected to Foreign and domestic banks are increasing their presence in Cabinda reach peak production of 100,000 barrels of oil next year. ANGOLA’S banks are getting nesses that make construction ernment has created the condi- to de Angola (BFA), Banco Totta At 474 metres, most of the oil- more and more involved in fi- supplies. Demand for such sup- tions necessary for the expan- de Angola (BTA), Banco Interna- rig is submerged. The deepwa- nancing the country’s expan- plies is strong because the sion to begin and to continue, all cional de Crédito (BIC), Banco ter drilling rig is taller than the sion, according to a study pub- many infrastructure projects of which is benefiting regular Sol, Banco Espírito Santo Angola Sears Tower in Chicago and lished by consulting group KPMG have caused a boom in con- Angolans. and Banco Millennium already dwarfs the Eiffel Tower. Angola. struction, and shortages of The gains from the growth are there. The total investment in the The Angolan government real- many supplies have been slow- already being returned to the Angola’s banks have risen project will be more than $3.8 ized long ago the country’s pri- ing some projects down. economy by private banks in close to the top of the rankings billion, which will include more vate banking system would One example is brick-making growing proportions. In 2007, for African financial institutions, than $272 million of local con- need some help to finance business EMPEBAT – Empresa banks channeled 75% of de- according to a report by the tent spending. The project max- growth. The Banco de Desen- Exploradora de Burgau, Areia e posits back into the economy in BNET Business Network. An- imises the use of Angolan engi- volvimento de Angola, or BDA, Terra. EMPEBAT borrowed $2 mil- the form of credits, way up from golan banks were three of the neering, procurement, con- was set up in 2006 by the gov- lion to buy equipment to in- 2006, when just 43% of deposits top 10 banks on the BNET web- struction and installation capa- ernment to “accelerate the bal- crease output and help supply were turned into credit. site’s Top 25 African Banks rank- bilities. Non-Angolan companies anced and sustainable develop- materials for the construction of Cabinda is also benefiting ing, accompanied on the list by that won contracts as part of ment of Angola, by providing for new housing in the province. from the increased interest on seven South African lenders. the project include Daewoo Ship- the creation of employment and Another way that Angola’s the part of banks in expanding BFA was the highest ranked, building & Marine Engineering income, the modernization of government has played a key within the country. The number at number seven, followed by Co. and Vetco Gray of the UK, a social and economic structures part in the growth of both the of banks with branches in the BAI in the eighth position, while supplier of equipment and ser- and the increase of competitive- banking sector and the econo- province is growing, with Banco BPC came in at number ten. All vices for onshore and offshore ness in the country.” my itself has been by pursuing de Poupança e Crédito (BPC), these banks are growing rapidly drilling. The BDA has been very active macroeconomic stability and re- Banco de Comércio e Indústria as they benefit from Angola’s As part of its investment in in Cabinda, particularly in fi- forming the country’s banking (BCI), Banco Africano de Investi- strong economy, BNET said in its Cabinda, Chevron is spending nancing the expansion of busi- regulations. That way the gov- mentos (BAI), Banco de Fomen- report. $2 million to help fund the con- FDI is expanding Cabinda’s rich oil supply with new technologies and more production areas SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SPONSORED FEATURE 3 Outside investment rolls into Cabinda as scale of production rises From oil processing to construction, global companies are setting up shop in Cabinda thanks to its tax incentives and labour force THE RAPID economic growth in op in Cabinda’s offshore blocks. After the 2006 agreement with The entire block is located with- the past decade in countries such In August of last year the US oil Cabindan separatist movements, in 31 miles of Chevron’s Malon- as China, India and Brazil has led company announced that it had oil prospectors have started go terminal, which will make it to an ever-increasing demand for made another successful dis- scouring the province for onshore easier to export its oil once pro- more energy, which in turn has covery in Block Zero, which deposits that can be exploited. duction starts. spurred more and more invest- Chevron co-owns with Sonangol The Lower Congo Basin, where Cabinda’s people stand to gain ment in the exploration for new (41%), France’s Total (10%) and Cabinda is located, has long been from the increase in onshore ex- oil deposits, and in finding more Italian oil company ENI (9.8%). known to be rich in petroleum ploration, as well as from the pro- efficient ways to exploit currently Much of the oil already pro- resources, and the prospecting duction offshore, as programmes developed deposits. duced in Cabinda is exported carried out so far has shown the to hire more workers from the Angola, and Cabinda, have wel- through Chevron’s Malongo ter- onshore area to have great po- region benefit the province’s comed this flow of investment minal, a largely self-sufficient tential for development. economy, and as the decline of into the oil industry, and are do- encampment on the coast whose ROC Oil of Australia began ex- civil strife permits expatriate ing all they can to encourage loading terminal can accommo- ploration in the Cabinda South workers to mix with the locals more. Many different companies, date Very Large Crude Carriers block in 2005, and its efforts and further add to growth. including Chevron, Total, ENI, (VLCCs). The VLCCs can hold as have already been greatly re- Chevron has long been active Pluspetrol International, ROC and much as 950,000 barrels of warded. One field, known as Mas- in helping the community in Angola’s state-owned Sonangol crude oil. sambala-1, was estimated in Cabinda and the rest of Angola in are eager to take up the chal- many ways, not just by provid- lenge and find more oil. ing thousands of well-paid jobs, Cabinda’s local government but also by helping reduce pover- keeps 10% of the income from ty and spur economic growth in local production to help fund its other ways as well. own projects, with the remain- The Angola Partnership initia- der going to the central govern- tive, a cooperative effort ment. That means that the more launched in 2002 to promote oil that companies can extract peace and stability and improve and export, the better for An- the country’s education and golans and Cabindans, who ben- healthcare infrastructure, set up efit from programmes to build up a micro lending bank in 2004, the infrastructure and improve called NovoBanco. the health and education of the Since opening, NovoBanco has province’s population. granted more than $27 million Chevron Corp of the US is the of loans to more than 5,500 mi- biggest foreign oil producer oper- cro and small enterprises. An- ating in Cabinda. Its local unit, other part of the initiative has Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, or CAB- Cabinda’s oil industry provides provided seeds, tools and food to GOC, has a 31% share in Block 14 approximately two million people production and a 39% stake in thousands of jobs. And as oil output spread across six provinces. Block Zero. The two blocks cur- Chevron expects to invest an rently produce the bulk of Cabin- increases, more jobs will be created additional $2.5 million each year da’s oil. through 2012 in programmes Production from Block 14, one both directly and indirectly since the that are intended to help make of Cabinda’s most important de- local governments more efficient posits, is scheduled to increase infrastructure will also have to grow by improving their organisation- in the next few years. While dai- al and administrative skills, and Proven reserves are constantly on the rise, which translates directly into greater attention and investment from around the globe ly production levels at the Kuito Chevron is in fact one of the 2008 to contain 170 million bar- to further reduce poverty by en- field is declining, output from biggest oil producers in all of An- rels of oil, more than five times couraging the growth of small- the Benguela-Belize-Lobito- gola, with a total daily produc- the amount originally thought. and medium-sized businesses. Tomboco project (BBLT) proba- tion of more than 171,000 barrels ROC, through its wholly owned All of the exploration and bly peaked in 2008. of oil. It’s the country’s biggest subsidiary Lacula Oil Company drilling activity, as well as the Reducing flaring to capture more natural gas The Tombua Landana project, foreign oil-industry employer, Ltd, announced in November of programmes funded by Chevron, a $3.8 billion oil production plat- with about 2,700 Angolans on last year that it had started drilling its partners, and the local and The burning flares that used to gas and to permit it to be TGPP can process approxi- built in South Korea by Sam- form within Block 14 that in- the staff, or about 87% of the lo- exploration wells in the Castanha- national governments, are adding be visible atop many oil wells, processed, stored and trans- mately 100 million standard sung Heavy Industries and cluded the construction of one of cal company’s total workforce. 1 and Coco-1 fields. Castanha-1 to the amount of money invest- and can still be seen in some ported so that it can either be cubic feet per day of gas, which then transported to the site. the tallest man-made structures Angolans make up 75% of was the first exploration well in ed in Cabinda each year. areas, are fuelled by natural exported or used to generate will be delivered to the new gas The giant, four-story facility will on the planet, started produc- Chevron’s professional and su- ROC’s 2009 drilling programme in That inflow means more direct gas, as oil producers dispose of electricity in Angola. facility onshore in Cabinda. allow Chevron to meet Angolan tion in September of last year pervisory staff in the country. the Cabinda South block. jobs for Angolans and Cabindans an unwanted by-product in the “TGPP represents a major ac- Chevron and partners are also environmental regulations and and is expected to reach peak While Chevron has been pre- The Cabinda South block in- who are hired to build the struc- cheapest way possible. About complishment for the Area A building a natural gas liquefac- will help contribute to the eco- production of 100,000 barrels of sent in Angola for decades, the cludes the Massambala field and tures needed to explore and pro- 150 billion cubic metres of nat- project as it will provide addi- tion plant in a nearby province nomic development of the oil per day in 2011. arrival of stability in the country others, including Coco, Milho, Ce- duce oil, and for the people who ural gas are burned in this way tional compression and gas that will permit the export of country by providing another In July 2009, Chevron an- with the signing of the 2002 and vada and Soja, which mean co- benefit from the spending that will every year, equal to one-quar- sweetening in Block Zero,” said the gas. The gas plant is fore- energy source and export rev- nounced that the company and 2006 peace pacts has attracted conut, corn, barley and soy in result from more locals having ter of all the gas used in the US Chevron Project Manager Bob cast to process about one bil- enue. its partners had started crude more foreign companies to the Portuguese. more money in their pockets. each year. However, natural gas King, referring to his compa- lion cubic feet of natural gas a Sonangol and the Angolan production ahead of schedule at area to seek out promising new ROC, who originally owned a 60% So even as big multinational has grown in value as a source ny’s local long-term Area A Gas day and to produce about 5.2 government have been work- the Mafumeira Norte project, deposits. interest in the Cabinda South block, corporations such as Chevron, of energy, encouraging oil com- Management Program, or AAGM. million metric tonnes a year of ing to reduce the burning of within Block Zero. The project is Almost all of the oil produced last year agreed to farm out a 45% Total and Pluspetrol gain from panies around the world to cap- The AAGM consists of three LNG and related products. natural gas with the goal of expected to reach its maximum in Cabinda comes from its off- stake to Pluspetrol Angola Corp, a Cabinda’s abundant petroleum ture it for sale. parts, including TGPP, the Cabin- TGPP, located offshore in the cutting pollution and increas- production of 30,000 barrels of shore wells. That production rep- Houston, Texas-based company, resources, Cabinda’s residents Chevron and its partners in da Gas Plant and the Flare and Takula field, stands in water ing revenue. Angola’s booming crude and 30 million cubic feet resents approximately half of An- which then took over as operator. will also directly gain from the Cabinda’s Block Zero field, So- Relief Modification project, that is about 186 feet deep. economy also requires more of natural gas per day some time gola’s total oil output of about ROC then farmed out another 5% new jobs created by the projects, nangol, Eni SpA and Total SA, which together will eliminate the The support structure was built energy, and the gas can be next year. 1.85 million barrels per day, and stake to Cuba Petroleo, leaving the and indirectly from the money recently inaugurated the Takula routine burning of natural gas in locally, in Lobito in Angola’s used to produce electricity for Chevron also continues to has helped make the country one Aussie company with a 10% inter- that will flow into government Gas Processing Plant (TGPP) to the area by permitting the fuel nearby Benguela province, homes, businesses and manu- prospect for new fields to devel- of Africa’s top three oil producers. est in the block. coffers. eliminate the need to burn off to be collected and processed. while the processing plant was facturers. Adapting the country’s New offshore tower an oil & gas industry engineering feat Companies look to maintain the Off Cabinda’s coast, voirs, helping to reduce discharges of contaminated water into the sur- spirit of Angola in their oil and gas the giant Tombua Lan- rounding ocean. operations dana tower will help The facilities are also designed to help protect air quality by avoiding As a country with vast petroleum resources, Ango- tap into what are “flaring”, the practice of burning off la has a tremendous opportunity to use the funds gen- some of the world’s the excess natural gas that is pro- erated from oil to develop the country, providing its duced while extracting oil. Instead citizens with the political and economic stability they richest deposits of wastefully releasing its millions deserve. The previous administration took many IN 1997 AND 2001, oil-industry of pounds of CO2 into the atmos- steps to make sure that Angola gets as much of the scientists made a remarkable dis- phere, the gas will be processed benefit as possible from its oil wealth. covery. Under the seas off the An- and stored in empty underground One of the most important ways the govern- golan province of Cabinda, they reservoirs. Later on, when the nat- ment has ensured Angola, and Cabinda, hold on to found the Tombua and Landana oil ural-gas component of Tombua Lan- a big part of the revenue generated by their oil is and gas fields, which hold over dana is fully operational, the gas to have Sonangol, the state-owned company found- one billion barrels of crude oil. can be tapped and sold – a win-win ed in 1976 to manage the country’s hydrocarbon Preparing to draw from these deep The Tombua and Landana fields hold over one billion barrels of crude oil solution for the atmosphere as well resource explorations, take important stakes in all undersea fields has been an enor- as the project’s bottom line. the oil blocks that are open for exploration and mous undertaking and a major en- platforms that already dot the reservoirs. Injecting water into the Tombua Landana isn’t just an ef- development. gineering effort. world’s oceans, the Tombua Lan- deposits will increase their pres- fort to develop natural resources. It’s Since its founding, Sonangol has taken a great Petroleum giant Chevron has dana structure is impressive. On sure, allowing the wells to extract about cultivating human resources interest in training Angolans to work in the oil in- linked up with global partners to land, the tower would stand 474 the most oil possible from the reser- as well. The established Angolan pe- dustry so that as much of the employment cre- meet the technical challenges, and metres tall – over 150 metres taller voirs and helping to push the thick troleum industry training centre in ated by the sector as possible will go to the coun- is training a workforce of Angolan than the Eiffel Tower, and almost crude oil up to the platform above Malongo is running at capacity to try’s citizens. To that end, the company has sent nationals to apply world-class skills 31 metres taller than the Empire the sea. supply qualified workers for the oil workers abroad for training and help set up the cur- to the project. These oil and gas de- State Building. The tower, only the Injection can consume millions and gas sector. To relieve the pres- ricula of technical schools that have opened in posits, which rank among the world’s fourth of its type yet built, will serve of gallons of water, so practices that sure on the Malongo facility, Chevron Angola. richest, will be tapped with one of as a hub for extracting undersea oil help maintain water quality are an is sending some Angolan trainees Chevron Corp of the US and Sonangol are the two the largest man-made structures in and gas. At the surface, the plat- important part of the overall envi- to its deepwater training centre in biggest oil companies operating in Angola, and the world. The Tombua Landana form will house control rooms to ronmental commitment made by Lafayette, Louisiana, where they both have been diligent in promoting the devel- Compliant Piled Tower – a massive manage drilling, processing and the Tombua Landana partners. Most will acquire the specialised skills opment of the local oil industry and training local lattice of steel, anchored to the storage, while on the seafloor, net- water used for injection will be “pro- that are used on deepwater rigs in staff as much as possible. seabed and topped with a drilling works of pipes and conduits will ex- duced water”, found mixed in nat- the Gulf of Mexico. Other Angolans Chevron has been very successful in this en- and production platform that ex- tend from the tower’s base. Some urally with – and contaminated by are visiting and working on Gulf of deavor. Angolans represent about 87% of the lo- tends out above the ocean surface pipes will carry the oil and gas out – the undersea oil and gas. The Mexico deepwater platforms, gain- cal company’s workforce, and 75% of profession- – will pump up to 100,000 barrels from the deposits underneath the Tombua Landana project will recy- ing firsthand experience abroad and al and supervisory staff in the country are An- of crude oil per day. seabed, while others will be used to cle its produced water, injecting it building the skills needed on Tombua golans as well. Sonangol ensures that oil & gas revenues are wisely invested in the communities Even among the giant towers and inject water into the subterranean back into the underground reser- Landana back at home. 4 SPONSORED FEATURE DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST Boosting the economy through Linking Cabinda to Angola

A country’s infrastructure is The new ship’s turbine improved infrastructure absolutely vital to its engines give it a maximum economic success, and the speed of 42 knots, which governments of Cabinda and permit it to make the trip Bridges and roads get special attention as the province invests nearly $100 million Angola, are well aware of this. between Cabinda City and Both have dedicated huge Soyo, in Angola’s Zaire efforts and ample resources to province, in one hour, instead building up the country’s of the three hours that the roads, airports, ports and previous ship on that route other important networks. took. The travel time between Those areas are among the Cabinda and the national governments’ priorities, but capital of Luanda has been health, education, energy, reduced to six hours, from 15 water and telecommunications hours previously. infrastructures are also being The Ebo is a much larger transformed by investment. ship than the Lueji, which was The objective is to give the ferry on the route before. residents of the region a higher The Ebo is 154 feet long and quality of life by giving them 42 feet wide. It can carry 370 easier access to clean water, people and cargo. The Lueji improving their health through had capacity to carry just 96 the construction and people. renovation of sewage systems “The Ebo is a modern, high- and helping people and speed ship,” says João Pedro businesses go about their daily Paxe, captain of the new ship. lives by reducing transport and “Our population is used to telecommunications times and carrying merchandise with costs. them when they travel, and it’s The provincial and national always easier to take more governments are working on weight on a ship than on a numerous projects that will plane. So when the Ebo starts increase the province’s operating, it will more than electrical supply, and extend it meet those needs.” further from Cabinda City into The Ebo has two classes for the rest of the region. The travelers, economy and project will use Cabinda’s executive. The trip between energy resources to provide Cabinda City and Soyo costs residents with more 2,000 kwanzas ($22) in electricity. Power production economy class, and 3,000 has already increased, from kwanzas ($33) in executive 4MW at the start of the project, class. The trip to Luanda costs to 42MW today. 4,500 kwanzas ($50) in Two recently purchased gas economic and 6,000 kwanzas turbines are in the final stages ($66) in executive. The ship of being installed, which will was bought in Italy by Angola’s take advantage of the natural Ministry of Transport, and the Huge investments have been made in upgrading road infrastructure, in addition to water supply, the airport and telecommunications gas that is extracted along purchase price included a with Cabinda’s oil. Taken maintenance contract. CABINDA’S INFRASTRUCTURE had articles below, but the government gions of the country and permits many countries in the region. Cabinda already has a new air- has been the improvement and together, the different projects been neglected for so long during is improving much more than those faster transmission of voice, in- Helping Cabindans get around the port, which has been operating expansion of Cabinda’s water sup- will have a great impact on the the period of civil strife and sep- vital networks. For example, com- ternet, data, television and ra- province more easily is another for more than two years. The fa- ply network. Residents of coun- province’s residents and By land aratism that when peace returned munications between Cabinda and dio. The provincial government priority. The province is already cility has a 1.5-mile runway that tries with modern, normally func- businesses by increasing the Cabinda is separated from the to the province in 2006, the gov- the rest of Angola have long been has already taken great strides much more than halfway through can accommodate planes of all tioning water systems can’t fath- amount of energy available to rest of Angola by the Zaire ernment had to spread its efforts a problem for the province, which to improve its own communica- a $190 million project to improve sizes, and now handles more than om the amount of time and ener- them. River and a narrow strip of the to improve the lives of its resi- 170 miles of roads connecting the 100 takeoff/landing operations a gy that is used in seeking out and A recently announced Democratic Republic of Congo. dents around many different pro- The province is improving 170 miles provincial capital of Cabinda City day. carrying fresh water from its energy project, which could be That separation has left the jects. to other parts of the enclave and The port of Cabinda has also ben- source to the home, for cooking, completed in as little as two province isolated from the rest Over the next few years the peo- of roads connecting the capital of to the frontier with the Democra- efited from several improvements. cleaning and other forms of san- years, would link Cabinda’s of the country, but within a ple of Cabinda will enjoy a huge tic Republic of Congo (DRC). A $100-million expansion plan in- itation. The water project alone energy grid to the Inga Dam in few years the problem will be improvement in the various dif- Cabinda to other regions The provincial government has cludes a 29.5-foot-deep ma- will vastly improve residents’ lives. the Democratic Republic of solved by a new bridge. ferent parts of the province’s in- imported 152 new buses to take noeuvring basin and a 262-foot The province has already made Congo (DRC). The proposed An audacious project to frastructure as the government is located about 124 miles from tions with the rest of the world. advantage of the new roads and access channel that will allow large and effective investments power line would give the bring Cabinda closer to Angola invests more and more on roads, the country’s capital. Work has finished on a subma- improve connections between ships carrying over 1,000 tonnes to improve the water system, province another source of will build a $2.55 billion bridge new buses, a new ferry, water The national government is work- rine cable that will vastly improve Cabinda City and other parts of of cargo to use the port. The new which have increased Cabinda’s electricity, making the power and roadway to link the two and sanitation. ing to resolve those difficulties Cabinda’s connection to the rest the area. The new vehicles are facilities will permit increased use supply capacity from 120 cubic supply more dependable. areas by land. The bridge over The work on the port and the air- by installing a new system of of the world. The end result is a making travel within the province of the port and provide new em- metres of the vital liquid per hour Another project intended to the Zaire River will be about 12 port and plans to build a bridge to satellite communications that modern telecommunications in- quicker, cheaper and easier for ployment opportunities. in 2002 to more than 990 cubic help residents and businesses miles long, and a stretch of the rest of Angola are detailed in links together the widespread re- frastructure that is the envy of residents and visitors alike. Another hugely important project metres per hour today. will link Cabinda, which is cut highway will complete the off from mainland Angola by connection. Construction on the DRC, with the rest of the the bridge began in 2008 and country via a 12.4-mile road is expected to be completed in that will include a bridge over October, 2012. the Zaire River. The road and The bridge is part of a bigger bridge will cost an estimated government programme that, $2.55 billion and will connect when finished, will leave all of Modernising Cabinda to the town of Soyo, in Angola with a much improved Zaire province. transportation network. Transport to Soyo and the Angolan and Cabindan national capital of Luanda officials held meetings with the Port of Cabinda have already improved. A new, their counterparts from the faster ferry has begun Democratic Republic of Congo, operation, cutting travel times which separates the two parts Shipping imports and exports are moving more efficiently through the province from Cabinda to Soyo to one of Angola, to decide on the hour from three, and to Luanda best route and the best CABINDA’S GOVERNMENT has an Since new management took competitive with other ports and well advanced, and should be fin- from 15 hours to six. The new combination of ambitious plan to make Cabinda over the port in 2004, there has forms of transportation. ished within the next year. The ship can carry almost four bridge/causeway/roadway to City a transport and trade hub for also been a concerted effort to The new management, which pier, when finished, will have ca- times as many people as benefit the residents of the the region. Part of that plan in- renovate and modernize its equip- was led by the former port di- pacity to handle five 12,000- previously fit on the old ferry. area in both countries. cludes the rebuilding and ex- ment to make it cheaper and more rector general Osvaldo Lobo do tonne ships at the same time. Once a final decision on the pansion of the seaport. The port Nascimento, didn’t just renovate Five new cranes have been pur- project’s parameters is made, received a $100 million grant the facility’s physical side, though. chased that can stack contain- By sea a Chinese construction from the national government in Once completed, The port’s operators have also ers higher than previously pos- Cabinda has long faced company, the China Road and 2007 to fund the project. worked to improve its adminis- sible at the port, which will in- The Civil Aviation Organisation gave Cabinda Airport’s improvements the difficulties because of its Bridge Corporation, will start As part of the plan, the port the new pier will tration, legal set-up, and its mar- stantly increase storage capaci- thumbs up. The next step in the modernisation process will include building distance from the rest of the process of building the has been given a deeper ma- have the capacity keting to gain more business. ty, while also allowing faster and a new cargo terminal Angola, with ferries acting as roadway. neuvering basin to permit ships The port’s equipment and phys- nimbler movement of containers. the principle mode of The government isn’t with a loading capacity of more to handle five ical state, including its container- The port already has a group of transportation for most people neglecting local roads in than 1,000 tonnes to use the fa- moving cranes and its pier, were workers who know how to oper- traveling between the enclave Cabinda, of course. Hundreds cility, and a wider access chan- 12,000-tonne deteriorated and needed much ate the new loading cranes, which Cabinda renovates and the nearest part of the of miles of roadways have nel so that two ships may pass renovation to bring them up to have been named after former rest of the country, which is been built, rebuilt and at the same time. ships at a time modern standards. That work is workers at the port who have con- the city of Soyo. improved in recent years, tributed outstanding work, and its airport Angola’s central government with more activity planned. a training programme will in- has contributed to the efforts The final goal is to give the crease the number of operators. Cabinda’s government has been and baggage-handling equip- to improve transportation province a local road network The port’s cargo holding area is working to improve the ment has been modernized as between Cabinda and other that will link its towns and being enlarged, which will further province’s economy by focusing well, helping make passengers’ parts of the country by buying smaller villages to Cabinda increase its storage capacity. Ce- on improving its transportation transit through the facility a new ferry called the Ebo, City, and to the bridge that ment silos and flour silos are be- infrastructure. The international faster and more comfortable. which is already speeding up will join them to the rest of ing built in the holding area to airport, where renovations are New equipment has been in- the trip. Angola. add to the type of products that now complete, is an excellent stalled in the control tower and can be efficiently moved through example of how those efforts in security areas, making trav- the facility. are already having a positive ef- eling from the airport safer. Offi- The holding area and piers will fect on people and businesses. cials from the International Civil also benefit from the construction Travelers to Cabinda can now Aviation Organization agree. of a new electric network that will choose from several scheduled They have inspected the airport, provide power to the whole area, daily flights to Luanda, Angola’s and given a positive opinion of as well as the addition of an in- capital, on the country’s nation- the improvements. tranet communications network, al carrier, TAAG, which flies to One of the most recent improve- all of which will further increase other international destinations ments is the renovation of the productivity and efficiency. as well. Another option would be airport’s meteorological, com- A properly functioning port re- to arrange for a charter flight to pleted in early May of this year. quires more than just modern and from the airport with a pri- Pilots now receive more accu- equipment, of course. Efficient vate company. rate data on weather conditions administration is also necessary, The renovations to the facility through Cabinda Airport’s air and do Nascimento and his team were finished in 2007, leaving traffic control tower. didn’t ignore that area. They hired Cabinda with Angola’s second The airport is a big employer in new people, increased worker biggest airport and a 1.5-mile- Cabinda, providing about 60 di- training, and changed the port’s long runway, capable of han- rect jobs and about 270 indirect legal structure as part of their dling planes as large as a Boe- positions. There are already strategic plan. They also devel- ing 737. plans afoot for more enlarge- oped a marketing plan intended The airport’s waiting room has ments and improvements, to attract more business from ar- been enlarged to handle up to which would mean even more Soon, Cabinda will be connected directly to mainland Angola at Soyo, thanks The Port of Cabinda is an important gateway to the rest of Africa eas near Cabinda. 300 passengers at peak hours, work for Cabindans. to a $2.55 billion road and bridge project SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SPONSORED FEATURE 5 What wood would do for the economy Angola’s government is eager to The private sector is clearly re- diversify the province’s econo- sponding to the incentives to my to reduce its dependence expand the timber industry in on oil. Timber is Cabinda’s sec- the province. In August furni- ond biggest industry after pe- ture maker Abilio de Amorim re- troleum. The nation’s economy, opened a factory that had been which expanded at a real pace inactive since 2002, with a new of more than 16% in 2007, has industrial saw worth $1 million spurred demand for wood amid capable of cutting 30,000 cubic its extended rebuilding pro- metres of wood per day. gramme and the government The provincial government is al- has shown great interest in re- so boosting efforts to improve cent years in boosting Cabin- the health of Cabinda’s forests da’s timber to add to the coun- try’s reconstruction. In 2007, Angola and its former colonial ruler, Portugal, signed an agreement to help promote Cabinda’s crops include surplusses of mandioca, banana, inguba, pineapples, peanuts, corn, macunde beans and sweet potatoes the African country’s timber sector, with a special emphasis on Cabinda. The province will provide valuable support for the timber industry in the rest of Angola, according to the terms The development of a non-oil of the agreement. Also in 2007, then Agriculture and Rural De- velopment Minister Afonso Pe- dro Canga came to the province to meet with former provincial All timber based economy governor Anibal Rocha and with local timber merchants to dis- production in Sectors such as timber ment, and help create new jobs in introduce new varieties of the plant, ments are made. The regional gov- tended to all the provinces in Angola, In Cabinda that has meant the cuss regulation, production and related sectors, and the other is to enabling the gratifying comeback ernment is buying greenhouses, with about 1,078 Cabindan farm- donation of 20 boats in recent export strategies. the province is and agriculture are provide the region with enough of of the crop. and has sent a technician to Brazil ers involved. Another project spon- years to fishing cooperatives in After years of neglect due to getting a boost from the basic foods that are the staples The government reaches out to to learn their greenhouse production sored by the government is im- the province, many sent from Chi- the civil turmoil that punished required to be of the local diet. help farmers in the rural parts of the techniques to help with this effort. porting cattle into the province. In na, along with other equipment the province until the end of the government subsidies Within Cabinda’s natural re- country through Agrarian Develop- A liquefied natural gas plant that is October of 2008, 1,000 head of cat- including 25 stern engines, 12 civil war in 2002, the govern- sustainable and sources, there lies much potential ment Stations, which offer techni- under construction in the nearby tle arrived in the region from the central engines, 17 canoes and ment and private banks are CABINDA’S OIL resources are a – and interest – in developing cereal cal advice on how to increase pro- province of Zaire will also boost de- Democratic Republic of Congo, and large numbers of nets. starting to lend to companies in felling without source of great wealth for the cultivation, soy, fishing and fruit. duction and improve the quality of mand for local produce once it has more were imported in 2009, boost- The local fishermen are limited the sector to make sure the lo- reforestation is province and for the entire country, The goals for agricultural pro- crops. Cabinda has four of the new been finished and staffed. ing the total number of cattle in in where they can fish because of cal timber industry has access providing funds that are being used duction have been rising each year, stations, which are spread around The local and national govern- Cabinda to more than 2,400. the prevalence of oil platforms off to financing to fund continued not permitted to build schools, hospitals, roads with the objective for the the province to make sure they’re ments have several different pro- A previous attempt to introduce Cabinda’s coast. The government growth. and other infrastructure that have 2007/2008 farming campaign in- as close to the farmers as possible. grammes to help farmers increase more cattle to the region was un- gave the cooperatives the boats The Banco de Desenvolvimento as well as its economy. already vastly improved the lives creased to 48,592 tonnes of foods The new stations cost 11 million production. The national govern- successful because the animals and engines so they could travel de Angola, or BDA, is a state- Any investing in the timber sec- of Angolans. – including bananas, corn, peanuts, kwanzas ($122,500) to build and ment has for years provided farm- came from southern Angola, where farther and carry more fish. owned lender set up in 2006 to tor unquestionably needs to be The economy is highly depen- mandioca, macunde beans and equip, and each has a warehouse ers throughout the country with the climactic conditions are differ- Now the supply of fish is greater help finance private business- carried out under conditions dent on the petroleum industry, sweet potatoes – from the 37,498 to hold equipment, seeds, fertilis- micro credits to help them acquire ent from in Cabinda. The Congolese than a few years ago because the es. In 2007, the bank loaned that ensure the production of though, and that needs to change tonnes produced in the previous er and other items. The region is equipment and seeds, and the lo- cattle are expected to fare better be- new boats can carry four or five money to So Cargas to buy two wood is sustainable. For exam- in order to reduce the country’s re- year’s harvest. working to produce other crops, cal government recently started a cause they’re more accustomed to tonnes of fish. Cabindan fisher- new industrial saws, which will ple, felling without reforesta- liance on one sector and to pro- Earlier efforts to boost output some for local consumption and similar programme for Cabinda’s the local weather. man have also benefited from the permit the company to in- tion is not permitted. mote the creation of new jobs. The have already helped, and Cabinda some for export. coffee farmers. Since 2007, more Now that Cabinda is close to pro- opening of two new ice factories, crease output and quality and Areas that had previously been provincial and central governments now produces surpluses of man- Cabinda already grows pineap- than 22,000 farmers from around ducing enough food for the local one in Cabinda City and the oth- to satisfy more of its cus- deforested are being replanted, both recognise the need for more dioca, banana and ginguba, which ples for export, though increasing the country have formed coopera- population, other agricultural pro- er in Cacongo, as well as from a tomers’ needs. often with eucalyptus trees. Eu- diversity in the economy, and are are exported. The region is also self- such exports is difficult at the mo- tives to benefit from micro-credit jects are starting. Construction of series of engine repair shops that Last August the BDA made an- calyptus is a fast-growing working to spur development and sufficient in peanut production, and ment because of a lack of trans- programmes. a palm oil refining and bottling plant are being built along the coast to other loan, of about $200,000, plant, so it will help to quickly investment in other sectors. all the positive results are the fruit port infrastructure. A better strat- The programmes lend between has already begun, and oil palm help boats suffering from me- to a furniture maker. That loan replenish the province’s stock One area that has already re- of the success of government pro- egy now is to produce vegetables $100 and $1,500 to the coopera- trees have been planted to provide chanical difficulties. The delivery is also being used to buy new of trees. New plantations near ceived a lot of attention is agricul- grammes to encourage their culti- for the nearby Chevron oil camp at tives, which consist of at least sev- supplies. of canoes and fishing nets has al- equipment, including saws, a Cabinda City are growing a vari- ture. Cabinda’s farmers and the vation. Malongo. en farmers each. Over $6 million Angola’s central government is so helped increase the province’s generator and other woodwork- ety of eucalyptus that is better provincial government are working The production of mandioca is a In 2008, the camp bought pro- has been lent so far to buy farming working on several fronts to boost fishing catch by permitting fish- ing machinery, to help the com- suited to the local climate, after together to help boost agricultural special success because the plant duce worth $400,000, and that fig- equipment, of which more than the country’s fishing catch as well, ermen in Cabinda’s interior to ex- pany increase its productivity earlier, less successful efforts production with two goals in mind. was nearly wiped out in recent years ure can be increased as more reg- $700,000 has already been repaid. to help people become more self- ploit the province’s rivers and and its output, according to with trees from the southern One is to increase farm employ- by disease. The government helped ular production and delivery arrange- The programme has been ex- sufficient in their food supply. lakes. owner Luis Gomes Sambo. part of Angola. 6 SPONSORED FEATURE DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST Education is top priority for government School enrolment in Cabinda is the highest of all Angolan provinces, and efforts are underway to build more classrooms, expand existing facilities and ensure that all school children have the basics

EVERY COUNTRY’S future depends partment. “The government has on its children and their education. programmes to eliminate the After more than a quarter century deficit by 2010 by building more of civil strife throughout Angola, classrooms.” its provinces are working hard to The government is getting a help- rebuild and improve their educa- ing hand in building new schools tional systems to give kids a bet- from Chevron Gulf Oil Company ter chance to work their way out and its partners in Bloc 0. In Feb- of poverty. ruary two new schools were inau- The educational system in Cabin- gurated in the Cabindan munici- da has made great strides since the palities of Iabe and Tshinsua, and signing of the peace agreement in built with funding from the petro- 2002, which permits the govern- leum companies. ment to dedicate more resources The new schools have six class- to the needs of the country’s citi- rooms each, as well as adminis- zens. trative areas, teachers’ residences The Cabindan government is and other spaces, and can house working to rebuild and restore in- a total of 840 students. Chevron frastructure, and and has intro- and its partners have also funded duced social support programmes. the construction of a kindergarten For example, every day grammar in Cabinda, as well as a teachers’ school students in urban and rur- college and a boarding school else- al areas are given lunch.” where in Angola. The programme of social help is Between the end of the war, the especially important for the expansion of facilities and the num- youngest students, and it’s here ber of teachers at work, the gov- where the government has made ernment has been able to slowly a special effort. Of the approxi- raise the number of years prima- mately 130,000 students in the ry students go to classes. Prima- primary education system, about ry education now goes through the 89,000 participate in various aid sixth grade instead of the fourth Increasing access to computers, internet and training schools is helping to prepare the Cabindan workforce for a wide variety of jobs programmes. grade, and the plan is to further The children in the programmes extend the programme. The university project is for the high school in the province, and so far and that Cabinda’s school civil conflict, and are working to shop is equipped with nine sewing with help from the central govern- get milk and nutritious biscuits Teachers have also benefited long term, but the government has will start up with ten classes of system sets the standard for the educate, reintegrate and help find machines, including an industri- ment and private sector, has al- every day. They also receive two from the reforms to the education more immediate plans that are al- 10th graders, and graduate its first other provinces. jobs for them. al sewing machine that will be ready made huge strides by in- school uniforms and a pair of san- system. Their salary has tripled ready helping students starting class in 2011. Students will be able The provincial government is The country has many former used to make shirts and African- creasing educational opportuni- dals per year, as well as a backpack since 2002, and the total number from primary school through to to take courses to gain specialised proud of its successes in improv- soldiers with disabilities that the style clothing for women. ties, and with more help from in- containing six notebooks, pens, of instructors has also increased, the level of technical preparation training in areas including petro- ing Cabinda’s educational system, government is working to reinte- Another cooperative project has ternational partners, is ready to pencils and a pencil sharpener. to 4,200 from 3,600 six years ago. for employment purposes. chemicals, ecological studies, in- and is doing more than just build- grate into society. The National provided ten taxis that will be used make even more advances. Starting last year, kids also re- Training programmes, for teach- The province will inaugurate a dustrial maintenance and metal- ing schools. It has got children who Association of Handicapped An- by two people each, providing an- “The difficulties that still exist ceive an oral hygiene kit. The pro- ers and administrators, have im- new technical school in 2009. The working. had been outside the system back golese (ANDA) is setting up pro- other 20 jobs for former soldiers. in the education sector can be re- gramme provides every child in proved, helping their students re- school, which will be located in Chi- The central government is also into school, and is also sending grammes that will provide work ANDA recently opened a carpen- moved quickly if we can count on school with a toothbrush, tooth- ceive a better education as well. top students abroad to take ad- for the soldiers. try workshop and a sawmill, cre- the sincere help of all friendly paste and a pamphlet explaining The goal is to give teachers and vantage of learning opportunities ANDA opened a sewing shop in ating more employment for the countries and people who want to children what they need to do administrators more up-to-date A good part of the province’s oil that aren’t yet available in Angola. the province last year that will pro- handicapped of Cabinda. peace and development,” says to take care of their teeth. training so they can better meet revenues are reinvested into schools, According to the government, vide jobs for 25 people. The work- Cabinda’s regional government, Mabiala. Even without all those pro- the new realities of the needs of today Cabinda has no children out- grammes, the situation for prima- their students, Mabiala says. medical centres and other social side the school system. The provin- ry education has improved tremen- The regional government is al- cial government has been giving dously since the end of the war. The so working on expanding the ed- institutions, and better management scholarships and grants to stu- number of students in Cabinda, in- ucational offerings for the dents who do well, spending more cluding at the secondary and adult province’s residents. Work has al- of the funds is bringing better results than $2.5 million every year on ‘Peace has brought level, has risen to 150,000, from ready begun on an ambitious plan scholarships. 70,000 in 2002. to build a 90-hectare university azi, 12 kilometres north of Cabin- working to encourage school con- Those students have spread In that same year, the region need- campus south of the provincial da City, is being built as part of a struction. The Vice Minister of Ed- throughout the world to learn at great educational ed 400 more classrooms than it had, capital, with the first brick laid in programme to open a network of ucation for Social Action, General top universities in countries in- a figure that was cut to 100 this year August of 2007 by Public Works 21 technical schools throughout and Specialised Teaching, Ana cluding the US, Germany, South and will be reduced to 50 next year Minister Higino Carneiro. the country. Paulo Fernandes, visited the Africa, Brazil, Portugal and Russia. as new schools are built and exist- The university complex will en- The facility in Chiazi will have 17 province in February to inspect Some stay within Angola but trav- benefits to Cabinda’ ing facilities are expanded. compass ten colleges, recreation- classrooms, each one with the ca- the progress the regional govern- el to Luanda to study in the capi- “We’ve identified the problem al areas, student residences and pacity for 36 students. The school ment has made in building new tal’s universities. The province of Cabinda’s Director of Education, Cul- and we continue to work to in- even a maritime wildlife reserve. will have workshops, laboratories, schools. The national and provincial gov- ture, Science & Technology João Chissina Mabiala dis- crease the number of classrooms,” The campus’s main building will boarding facilities for 200 students, Fernandes visited all the mu- ernments, while focusing strong- cusses the changes that are being made to improve says João Chissina Mabiala, Di- house administrative offices, the and residences for ten teachers nicipalities in Cabinda, and said ly on educating children, haven’t every local child’s education. rector of Cabinda’s education, cul- central library and the main lec- and for the school’s director. she was very satisfied with the re- forgotten the generation that was ture, science and technology de- ture hall. The school will be the biggest sults of the building programme left behind during Angola’s long Angola is experiencing a period of peace and po- litical stability, as was demonstrated by the calm- ness with which the elections were held in Sep- tember of last year. What progress has been made by the provincial government in the area of edu- cation since then? Mobile healthcare reaching everyone In addition to the efforts that we carried out re- garding building and renovating the physical infra- Children especially benefit from these mobile health clinics, receiving vaccinations and vital check-ups structure, we also launched new programmes, in- cluding one to improve transport for teachers in rur- al areas, and the oral hygiene kit for primary school students, which is included with other programmes such as the school lunch and school kits we already give out. Regarding the private sector, of the nearly 20 private schools, about 40% have been legalised.

What is the role of the private schools in the edu- cation system in the province, and how would João Chissina Mabiala, Provincial Director of you rate their quality? How is the process of le- Education, Culture, Science & Technology galisation progressing? The private schools are the government’s partner Are there more resources available for education in reaching out to the communities to educate the now that there is peace and stability in Cabinda? next generations. While their quality isn’t better, it Yes, peace has brought great benefits because, isn’t very different from the public schools, because though Cabinda hadn’t been one of the provinces they follow the orientation that comes from the Min- most affected by the armed conflict, the country’s istry of Education. As for legalisation, the situation resources were being used up at the national lev- has improved considerably. el. It’s normal in that situation for other areas of the country to have limited resources because The government in Cabinda added 58 new class- they’re being used for defence spending. After rooms for the 2009 school year, but there’s still a signing the peace agreements, there have been six need for more. What measures are being taken to years in which we have begun to receive a bigger reduce that deficit, and when will they be put into part of the budget for the area that I direct. We’ve effect? begun to build more infrastructure, in the form of We’ve identified the problem and we continue to schools, etc. Before the signing of the agreements, work to increase the number of classrooms. The gov- Cabinda had about 245 schools, with 966 class- New medical clinics are kept busy, improving the living standards of rural Cabindans ernment has programmes to eliminate the deficit rooms. By 2004 we already had 278 schools with by 2010 by building more classrooms. 1,249 classrooms. THE CABINDAN government has nation programme begun in 2007 Another programme to vacci- opened in the Massabi and San- The Chinese construction company China Jiang- been dedicating more and more has inoculated more than More than nate people of all ages against ga Planicie areas. The Massabi fa- su has already added two impressive new primary What are your goals for the future for education, funding to improving the 130,000 children against polio. polio and malaria, and sponsored cility has 25 beds, and can carry schools to the school network of the province of and how soon do you expect to achieve them? province’s healthcare system. The kids also receive a vitamin A 100,000 school by Chevron, is aimed at residents out clinical analyses that were Cabinda, as part of the Public Investment Programme. Our general goals are the same as in the rest of New hospital and health centres supplement and an anti-parasite of the region’s rural areas. Drugs not previously available in the the country. By 2015 we want all children, at a na- are being opened around the medicine while getting their children have are administered by mobile clin- area. The people of Sanga Plani- What other projects are being carried out in the tional level, to be within the school system. We’re country, some of them with ad- shots. been treated for ics to make it easier to reach the cie have gained a facility with a province with the cooperation and funding of China? working hard to eliminate illiteracy, which is our vanced medical equipment. The A programme administered most isolated residents. maternity ward and a vaccina- In our sector we’re planning on building more pri- main objective. new facilities can spare people jointly by the education and health parasites over the The rest of the population is al- tion clinic that will improve the mary and secondary schools under the guidance of At this time we have obligatory schooling up un- from the region a trip to the na- departments has treated more so benefiting from the increase health and the lives of the local the provincial government. Some contracts have al- til sixth grade, and our goal is to lengthen that pe- tional capital of Luanda, or fur- than 100,000 school children be- past two years in spending, of course. In addition population. ready been decided, such as the Vitoria e Certa Neigh- riod by 2015. Cabinda is a province with oil and ther, for many treatments. tween the ages of five and 14 for to the new hospital, an older hos- One indication of the improve- bourhood School, which will have more than 24 class- wood, and also with good land. We have to invest to In addition to renovating Cabin- parasites over the past two years. pital has been renovated and new ment in healthcare in recent years rooms, and for the second phase of the PUNIV Buco- improve other parts of the economy, and that will da’s Central Hospital and open- In 2007 alone, the programme clinics are being opened up is the fact that no new cases of Ngoio pre-university programme. be possible if we use the income from oil to educate ing a municipal hospital, the gov- treated 87,000 kids. The children New hospitals are around the province that will bring leprosy have been reported since people to develop other areas such as agriculture, ernment is now finishing work receive a drug called Albendazol, doctors and treatment closer to 2005. Coordinator for public What areas do you think would be fertile ground for fishing, the environment, etc. on the Alzira Fonseca regional which will help rid them of the being built, old all Cabindans. health in the regional govern- more cooperation between China and Cabinda? hospital, which boasts state-of- pests that can gravely affect their The 40-bed hospital at Ca- ment, Fuete Henry da Costa, says The experience of the Chinese people could be What message would you like to transmit to the the-art technology from General health and their ability to learn. ones renovated congo has been completely ren- the success of the region’s lep- very helpful to Cabinda in the areas of school sports readers of the South China Morning Post? Electric. The new equipment per- The government has begun to and mobile clinics ovated and provided with new rosy programme can be attrib- and technical-professional education. They should continue to believe in the future of mits the facility to carry out car- acquire mobile healthcare clinics equipment. With a staff of five uted to the residents of the region our country and our province, and they should help diovascular, kidney, and diabetes that also help improve the health now take health- doctors and 32 nurses, the hos- taking advantage of all the new How can China help Cabinda and Angola with re- us to build and rebuild our country. The difficulties treatments, as well as other pro- of the region’s youngest residents. pital specializes in pediatrics healthcare facilities being offered. construction, in addition to lines of credit? that still exist in the education sector can be re- cedures. The units travel from school to care to under- and maternity care, as well as The region’s leprosy programme I think we can put the technical capacity of the Chi- moved quickly if we can count on the sincere help As in other areas, the region’s school to do check-ups, diagnose general medicine and AIDS treat- currently manages 35 outpa- nese to use in the areas of human resources, in re- of all friendly countries and people who want peace children are a special focus of illnesses, and aid in the prevention served areas ment. tients who suffer from the dis- lation to teachers who should learn different tech- and development, including the readers of this im- the increased spending. A vacci- of malaria and parasites. New clinics have also been ease. nical areas and practices. portant international newspaper. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SPONSORED FEATURE 7 Natural beauty, yet another natural resource Cabinda is home to one of the world’s largest rain forests. In addition, the local colour and flavour of the many villages, the tranquil beaches and the opportunities for ecotourism activities make this province a real contender for leading the region in tourism WITH ITS SANDY beaches, lush istry scientists and researchers along with Cabindans and those of the province’s tourism potential,” forests and abundant, exotic wildlife, from Chevron. who visit, are benefiting greatly says Mr Paulo. “This promotion is Cabinda has huge tourism potential. To reduce the threat to the turtles, from the end of the insurgency in done via our magazine Turnorteas The local government is already pro- the research project has partnered the province. After a spell of peace, well as in the tourism guide. We’re moting the province as an enticing with local fishermen who are deep life in the area has just about re- calling on investors to come and destination and is preparing to wells of untapped knowledge about turned to normal. take part in this area because the spend more on the infrastructure ocean fauna and who can take a “Peace guaranteed the free cir- occupancy rate is still as high as 150 that is needed to attract visitors. leadership role in increasing aware- culation of people and goods per cent per year.” The region’s biggest tourist at- ness among the community. This throughout the province. It permit- The government is also promot- traction is the Mayombe forest and effort to tag, track and protect the ted investment in improvements ing the region abroad. Angola had a the gorilla population that lives there. vulnerable turtles has already iden- in infrastructure and access routes, pavilion at the international exhibi- The government has plans to de- tified 700 nests and observed 5,300 such as highways, and opened up tion held last year in Zaragoza, Spain. velop parts of the forest to make it hatchlings since the project began. opportunities in hotels and similar The focus of Expo Zaragoza 2008 more hospitable for visitors and more Cabinda has much to offer scu- places. It also brought an increase was water, and it included repre- productive for residents, all in an sentations of Bakama dancers from environmentally sound way. May- Cabinda. Bakama ritual dancers wear ombe is one of the largest animal and masks and are present at many plant reserves on the planet, second Cabindan festivals. They represent in size only to the Amazon. spirits that are a link between the Visitors to the forest preserve worlds of the living and the dead, will be able to see a wide variety of and were included in the expo be- wild animals, along with rare and ex- cause of their ecological background. otic plants that have many differ- The spirits are said to interact with ent uses for the people who live in plants and animals without caus- and around the park, according to ing them any harm. Angola has been Geraldo Ndubo Paulo, Cabinda’s Di- present this year at Expo Shanghai, rector of the Department of Indus- as well, with two main displays: the try, Trade and Tourism. relationship between nation and wa- “The Mayombe Forest has many ter, and the sustainability of urban animal species, such as gorillas, development. chimpanzees, monkeys, elephants As part of a growing focus on and others, and plants and trees Cabindan culture, the local govern- such as longhi, undanunu and oth- ment is investing in the renovation er plants that are used in medicines, of the Cabinda Regional Museum. food and in construction,” says Mr With its modern and good sized Among the museum’s numerous Paulo. “It’s a dense, virgin forest.” exhibits are displays of typical cloth- Cabinda’s beaches are another airport, ever-improving roads and the ing, jewellery, household items, part of the region’s many attrac- medicine, tools and weapons. The tions. Mandarim beach is a popular future bridge crossing into the museum is also one of the most spot for bathers, sport fishermen important centres for the study of and for campers and canoeists as mainland, getting to and around Cabinda’s rich oral history tradition. well. Landana is a beautiful, clean Although the tourism industry sandy beach where tourists and lo- Cabinda has never been easier can’t hope to equal the importance cals alike gather at the area’s bars to the regional economy of the oil and restaurants. ba divers and snorkelers as well. in tourism and eco-tourism busi- industry, it is growing and em- Futila beach is close to the oil in- Where the Congo meets the sea, nesses, with the exploration of nat- ploying more and more people. In stallations of Malongo, and so at- not far from the Cabindan border, urally touristic areas like lakes and 2006 the tourism sector’s sales tracts many of the expatriates who the river has carved an undersea forests,” says Mr Paulo. rose to 39 million kwanzas, 12 mil- work there. Malongo is one of the re- canyon more than a mile deep in- The regional and national gov- lion of which came from hotels. gion’s more developed beaches, to the ocean floor, extending some ernments are committed to im- The province already benefits with restaurants, bars and suites 125 miles out from the coastline. proving Cabinda’s infrastructure to from a part of its oil wealth. A pro- available for bathers. Dolphins are commonly seen in benefit tourists and residents alike. portion of the revenue the oil in- At Malongo, sun worshippers Angolan waters. These famously The budget for building and im- dustry generates stays in the re- might find themselves sharing the friendly and inquisitive marine proving airports, highways, ports gion to fund the local budget. The beach with the rare Olive Ridley sea mammals can be found in the open and other projects has more than government is wisely dedicating turtles, which have been discov- ocean, but prefer the shallows close tripled in recent years, rising to some of that money to improving ered nesting there. This find pre- to the coast, where reefs and beds $250 million this year, from $72 Cabinda’s tourism industry, in an sents the opportunity to study the of sea grass harbour the small fish, million not long ago. effort that will attract increasing breeding habits of an internationally crustaceans and squid that make “We’re committed to increasing numbers of visitors, whose spend- listed endangered species that is be- up the bulk of their diet. facilities for lodgings, leisure, restau- ing will boost employment and spur Because of the civil war, Angola was left out of the race to capture the attention of global travellers. Now that the war is a thing of the past, Cabinda is moving ing taken up by Environment Min- The turtles and other wildlife, rants, and to increasing promotion the region’s economic growth. forward and showcasing its beauty, talent and overall potential to be a travel destination CAN 2010, Africa’s biggest football event, Bakamas a highlight of will put Cabinda in the spotlight Cabinda’s unique culture Only four cities were chosen to host the tournament matches and Cabinda is proud to be among them Helping communities to mourn, to celebrate and to pay respect, Cabin- IN JANUARY 2010, Angola was Black Antelopes of Angola draw- were held in Lubango by Gabon, d’Ivoire in Egypt, in 2008 de- tournament in January 2008. da’s Bakamas are a long and rich cultural tradition the proud host of the CAN2010 ing against Mali 4-4. The other Zambia, Cameroon and Tunisia. feating Cameroon in Ghana, and The construction programme African Cup of Nations football teams in Group A were Malawi The championship has been this year, outscoring Ghana by and the influx of tourism helped CABINDA’S CULTURAL heritage is In costume, Bakamas hide their thanks for good times, like the in- tournament. The final game was and Algeria. Group B, consisting played in its present format one point. spur the local economy, which profound but not widely known faces with rough-hewn and vestiture of a new chief or to con- played on January 31 at the na- of national teams from Ghana, since 1968, when the organisers A major construction plan pre- is heavily dependent on oil at beyond Angola’s borders. For the brightly painted wooden masks, secrate a new building, and to tional stadium in the capital, Lu- Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, decided to hold the event every pared Cabinda for the event. The the moment. The championship inhabitants of the Congo River wrapped in layers of colourful note the bad times, such as nat- anda. played at Cabinda’s new, 20,000- second year. Since then it has stadium, for example, has coincided with, and helped delta enclave, the traditional per- fabric, and cover their bodies with ural disasters, illness or death. Fifteen teams disputed the seat Chiazi National Stadium. been hosted by countries such special seating boost, a government effort to formers known as Bakamas are garlands of dried banana leaves. At the event, a group of Baka- championship, including the An- Group C matches were played as Ethiopia, Egypt and Mali. In sections for attract more tourism to the re- an essential part of how Cabin- The leaves are burnt after every mas will typically include nine or golan national side and other top in Benguela between 2000, Nigeria and Ghana joined 204 VIPs, 100 gion and diversify sources of dan communities commemorate appearance, and the masks and twelve members, varying their teams from the continent. The Egypt, Benin, Mozam- together to co-host the tour- journalists, 65 growth. important events. Appearing to wrappings are hidden deep in- numbers and roles according to four cities that hosted bique and Nigeria, nament. places for the A singular dark cloud over the help Cabindans mourn, celebrate side the forest. the nature of the celebration. matches were Luan- and Group D The Egyptian team has handicapped tournament came on January or show respect, the Bakamas Traditional Cabindan beliefs While the Bakamas themselves da, Cabinda City, matches dominated the last and 100 park- 8, when members of the Cabin- perform ritual dances while wear- hold that anyone who tries to find lead the dance, with each masked Benguela and three tourna- ing places. dan separatist group Front for ing special garments, decorations them will go blind. When they do dancer led by a guide, support- Lubango. ments: in 2006 Cabinda’s ho- the Liberation of the Enclave of and masks. While their true iden- appear in public, Bakamas mark ers sing along and keep time. The opening cer- beating Côte tel offerings Cabinda (FLEC), erroneously at- tity and hidden rituals are a close- significant moments in the life African drums, made from tree emony and the were also im- tacked a bus that was trans- ly guarded secret, it is clear that of individual Cabindans and their trunks and covered with animal first game proved. porting Togo’s national team to the Bakamas are an essential families. Bakamas dance to give skins, set the beat. were also Before An- Angola. Three were killed by gun- part of the cultural and spiritual held in Lu- gola won the fire and eight others were in- life of Cabinda’s people. anda, right to host jured. Two arrests were prompt- As worshippers of Lusunzi – an with the event, the ly made in Angola in relation to invisible deity that protects the the province of- the incident. people’s virtue and purity – Baka- fered about 280 Apart from this unfortunate mas are honoured as guardians hotel rooms, a act of violence, the tournament of the community’s moral val- figure that rose will be seen as creating long- ues. Cabindans believe that Baka- to about 450 lasting benefits for the Angolan mas intercede between the peo- rooms by the people, such as its effort to pro- ple and the gods, reconciling the start of the cham- mote football among the living and the dead and com- pionship. Three province’s youth, thereby dis- bating evil spirits. These beliefs new hotels were couraging a tendency towards are most prevalent in southern built to lodge fans falling into extremist groups Cabinda, where the villages of and reporters. such as Flec. Tchizo, Ngoyo, Povo Grande, Tch- The athletes, Residents of Cabinda will al- inzazi, and Susso are home to trainers and other so be able to make use of the fa- the strongest Bakama traditions. team staff were cilities built for CAN2010, and While getting ready to perform, housed in separate young people, low-income Cabin- the Bakamas seclude them- facilities, similar to dans, and injured war veterans selves to maintain their secret an Olympic Vil- had special access to reduced- rituals. lage. That price tickets to see matches. For five days before a dance, arrangement When Angola won its bid to the Bakamas will not eat food was already host the tournament, the or- prepared by a female, and they successfully ganisers’ goal was to promote isolate themselves from their used for the sport and show the world that families. The preparations for the athletes who the country has progressed performance are carried out in came to Cabin- rapidly since the end of the civ- secret, in a hidden place where da for the il war in 2002. The success of others are not admitted. Thus, Afrobasket the event has shown that Angola their identities as Bakamas are 2007 competi- is now a country that is ready kept hidden from the communi- tion, and the to take its place in African af- ty, and the roles they play are a The Bakamas performers wear costumes made of dried banana leaves Angola hosted the 28th edition of the Africa Cup Nations (CAN), the biennial football championship of the African continent African handball fairs. mystery even to their own kin. and brightly painted wooden masks to hide their identities 8 SPONSORED FEATURE DAY 00, MONTH 2010 SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST