Despite the warm welcome signs at the airport of Angola’s biggest city, it quickly becomes obvious to visitors from Western industrial nations that they are about to face challenges.
A deficient infrastructure, drastic gulf between rich and poor as well as omnipresent corruption turn a stay in the country into an often confusing and emotional experience.
Did You Know… ?
Did you know that Luanda is one of the world’s most expensive cities, where a pizza in a restaurant costs up to €40, and a small rental apartment is hard to find for less than €4,000? In contrast to these sky-high prices, however, there is a second economic reality, which keeps the majority of the population on the breadline or below, and where pizza is not on the menu.
The gulf between these twin tracks of development increased again due to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, which was held in Angola, and has its origin in the country’s decades of paralysis through civil war and wars of independence. At the same time, Angola has regions that are among the world’s richest in raw materials. In addition to oil deposits, its rare metals are particularly sought after.
An Attractive Country to Invest in
This combination of poor infrastructure and abundant natural resources attracts large numbers of foreign investors to the country. Thus the overpriced hotels are filled with representatives of Anglo-Saxon oil corporations while in the city’s south, Chinese building crews raise satellite towns for nearly a million inhabitants and build rail lines inland.
In this highly complex environment, it is essential for business travellers and expats to receive professional support. As economic interest has grown, so has the need for intercultural preparation and expertise with a focus on Angola. intercultures is the only German provider able to offer these both on the ground in Luanda as well as in Germany.
Meet Our Regional Expert
Our trainer Manuela Sambo is Angolan and for many years has been advising and accompanying German companies entering the market and during local negotiations. Because the majority of her family lives and works in Angola, she receives up-to-date insider information with regard to economics and politics. Thanks to many years living in Cottbus and Berlin, she fully appreciates and understands any queries or problems raised by business travellers and expats.
To learn more about intercultural support with regard to Angola: “Bemvindos!”
