Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM These materials are distributed by Squire Patton Boggs LLP on behalf of its foreign principal the Government of Angola. Additional information is on file with the FARA Registration Unit of the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. From: Murphy, Rory <rory.murphv(q)squirepb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2020 5:12 PM To: iessica.weltge(a> mail.house.gov Subject: Meeting Request: Government of Angola Dear Jessica- I'm reaching out today on behalf of my client, the Government of Angola. Both Squire Patton Boggs and I are registered under FARA for the Angolan Presidency. Are you free for a quick meeting sometime next week? I would like to discuss some of the major reforms taking place in the country and discuss Secretary Pompeo's recent trip to the country (an overview of the Secretary's trip can be found he e). I would also like be interested in chatting about your boss's interest in demining funding. We saw the Dear Colleague that was circulated, and as you know, Angola greatly benefits from demining funding from the United States. I have a few pending meeting requests, but am generally available as follows: • Thursday, March 5 from 9:00-12:30,1:30-2:30, 3:30-5 • Friday, March 6 all day • Wednesday, March 11 after 12pm • Thursday, March 12 all day • Friday March 13 all day For further background, a briefing document that provides an overview of many of the country's recent reforms, including its effort to privatize 195 state-owned businesses, can be found here. Please let me know if you have any availability. Many thanks, Rory Murphy SQUIRE© Associate ^U*"Phy PATTON BOGGS Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP 2550 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 T +1 202 457 6167 O +1 202 457 6000 F +1 202 457 6315 M +1 406 781 0733 [email protected] | squirepattonboggs.com Admitted in Montana and the District of Columbia Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM ’ll Ur A L! I! * mm THE US ANDTHE NEW ANGOLA Secretary Pompeo's Visit to Luanda Accelerates a Fast-growing and Important Strategic Partnership Media Coverage Pompeo Backs Anticorruption Steps by Angola. The Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2020. "Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed support for the anticorruption stance and business-oriented agenda of Angolan President Joao Lourengo, following a meeting on Monday." Pompeo Stresses Economic Ties, Fight Against Corruption in Angola. Voice of America, February 17, 2020. etary of State Mike P "[Lourengo] has pursued bad actors. I am optimistic that he k: a Joao Lourengo will continue to liberate Angolans from corruption." Promising 'true liberation.' Pompeo contrasts U.S. role in Africa with China's, Washington Post, February 19, 2020. Pompeo blasts corruption, promotes U.S. business in Africa trip, Reuters, February 17 2020. US Department of State Secretary Michael R. Pompeo and Angolan Minister of External Relations Manuel Auausto at a Joint Press Availability. February 17, 2020. "President Lourengo shared his vision of a new Angola - H-J government, business, civil society - and the great Angolan people are clearly ready for change." "I'm also encouraged by [Lourengo's] efforts to privatize state- owned enterprises, a move that will greatly, greatly attract private investment... If parliament's new private investment law is implemented transparently and faithfully, then many, many more American businesses, many, many more Western businesses will come to Angola and create wealth, jobs, and opportunity for the Angolan people." ANGOLA Page 1 February 2020 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM The United States and Angola: Deepening an Important Strategic CAROLINA m Partnership. February 16, 2020. "The U.S. reaffirms its commitment to Angola and the Angolan people as they work to fight corruption and promote democracy." "Angola's improved anti-corruption efforts are reflected in its 19-place improvement ... in the 2019Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index." Social Media Embassy of Angola in the US (@EmbassyAngolaUS) "Thank you, @SecPompeo, for your visit to our country. We are grateful for the partnership of the United States, @ realDonaldTrump and Congress as we build the #NewAngola." Secretary of State Michael Pompeo (@SecPompeo) "It was a pleasure to meet with Angolan President Joao Lourengo today in Luanda.The U.S. strongly supports #Angola's anti-corruption, democratization, and economic reform efforts." mm 0K A J K .4 "Informative discussion with U.S. and Angolan business leaders on promising opportunities to increase two-way trade and investment. Empowering the private sector will lead to a stronger, more prosperous #Angola." Morgan Ortagus, State Department Spokesperson (@statedeptspox) "One of the best parts of my job is getting to meet women who are changing their communities. These Angolan entrepreneurs are an inspiration to women and girls around the world!" — Governo Angola Page 2 February 2020 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM mml || i zzz mum !■■■ , * m • ip* III: 1 ■ • .* • - -- 2. * m h V THE NEW ANGOLA OPPORTUNITIES FOR US ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT "The reforms that are being implemented are aimed at placing Angola in line with the foundational principles of the functioning of modern states in order to make our economy more competitive and attractive to foreign investment." -Angolan President Joao Lourengo, September 2019' "The United States welcomes Angola's efforts to fight corruption and improve its human rights record...We commend Angola for its efforts to diversify its economy, creating opportunities for even greater US private sector engagement. We strongly support Angola's growing role as a leader in promoting regional stability and look forward to deepening political and commercial cooperation in the years to come." - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, November 2019'' * * * Under President Joao Lourengo, Angola has entered a new phase in its history, with the potential to become an economic leader in sub-Saharan Africa, a valuable strategic partner for the US and American business, and a stabilizing force in the region. Since his election in 2017, President Lourengo has waged a sweeping anticorruption fight, and implemented legal and economic reforms to strengthen good governance and the rule of law, and build a more resilient, inclusive economy. Leveraging Angola's position as the third-largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and the continent's second-largest oil producer, the government has taken unprecedented steps to decrease state involvement in the private sector, diversify the economy and generate private sector-led development. if ANGOLA Page 1 January 2020 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 03/04/2020 4:58:38 PM Opportunities for US Economic Engagement 1. Privatization Program - On August 5, 2019, Angola enacted its plan ("PROPRIV") to privatize 195 state- owned enterprises via public tender, public auction and initial public offerings."'The program has begun with Angola's state oil company, Sonangol, which is divesting non-core businesses and reducing its stakes in oil blocks. Combined with reforms in Angola's investment laws to encourage private industry growth, PROPRIV will generate investment in industries including telecommunications, agriculture, airlines, banks and financial institutions, energy, textiles, transportation and infrastructure. 2. Banking and Investment - In September 2019, President Lourengo (along with the Minister of Finance, Central Bank Governor and Minister of Economy and Planning) led a dialogue in New York City with approximately 40 executives from major US and other banks and financial institutions about banking and investment opportunities in Angola. Participants included, among others, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and representatives from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and several US government agencies. International markets continue to react favorably to Angola's economic reform efforts. In November 2019, the country raised US$3 billion from a euro bond offering that attracted over US$8 billion in orders.iv 3.Oil and Gas. - While the government is working hard to diversify the economy, oil and gas will remain an important component to the economy. Angola is currently the fifth-largest supplier of petroleum to the US at a time when the US is seeking to diversify sources of energy beyond the Middle East. Major international oil companies - including Chevron,Total, ExxonMobil, British Petroleum and Statoil - operate in the country. In February 2019, the government established the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency ("ANPG") to regulate, supervise and promote oil industry related activities, a role previously held by Angola's national oil company, Sonangol. In October, the government tendered the construction of three new domestic oil refineries in the cities of Soyo, Cabinda and Lobito.The country announced in November 2019 that it had formed a consortium with five international oil companies, including Chevron, to develop a US$2 billion LNG project in Soyo.vThere are numerous opportunities for investment in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, particularly for investors that can construct or add value to Angola's existing infrastructure. 4. Food and Agriculture - Angola's 58 million hectares of arable land provide it with the potential to be one of the leading agricultural exporters in Africa. Yet the country imports an estimated US$250 million a month in food. Accordingly, the government is prioritizing the agriculture sector and investing in infrastructure to generate market access for Angolan farmers.