The Catumbela-Benguela Industrial Development Hub (PDICB), which currently survives mainly through the sale of land plots, needs new revenue sources and adequate conditions to boost the private sector, stated the provincial governor of Benguela on Tuesday.
Manuel Nunes Júnior visited the park, highlighting the urgent need for changes in the funding model.
According to the governor, the current model, based exclusively on selling land plots, does not guarantee long-term sustainability.
“A hub that relies solely on land sales is not sustainable,” he said, emphasizing that land is finite, and once it runs out, the business ends.
The provincial government, as a partner of the infrastructure, is already studying solutions to reverse the current situation.
Improving Accessibility
The governor emphasized the need to improve access roads and create basic infrastructure for existing companies and future industries. The goal, he explained, is for the Hub to fund itself through service fees, allowing it to cover operating expenses and make occasional investments.
Manuel Nunes Júnior pointed out that road access remains the biggest obstacle to development.
According to him, poor road conditions deter potential investors and limit the operations of companies already established in the area.
Strategic Role
The PDICB, he acknowledged, has the potential to play a strategic role in diversifying Benguela’s economy and strengthening the Lobito Corridor by encouraging investment in sectors such as Industry and Agro-industry.
The hub could also contribute to increasing the province’s exports in the future.
The governor noted that electricity services are relatively stable and assured that water supply should improve this year, thanks to the implementation of water supply projects for coastal municipalities and the drilling of new wells in Chiulo.
“The outlook is promising, especially regarding water. By the end of this year, we may see significant improvements in this area,” he guaranteed.
Administrative Dispute
Another issue identified by the governor involves an administrative dispute over tax revenue collection between the municipal administrations of Catumbela and Lobito.
The problem arises because some companies are physically located within the Catumbela Industrial Development Hub but hold surface rights issued by the municipality.
Manuel Nunes Júnior assured that both administrations have been instructed to resolve the issue “in a technical and swift manner.”
Source: Jornal de Angola
