Lisbon, Portugal, 13 March – The plan for a new network of supply and retail markets as well as logistics platforms in Angola has been contracted by the Government to Portugal’s SIMAB – Sociedade Instaladora de Mercados Abastecedores, the president of this state company for setting up supply markets said.

Rui Serôdio, quoted Friday in Portuguese financial daily Jornal de Negócios, said that the contract was signed last week and the viability study would be financed by the Angolan state budget, but declined to comment on the sum involved.

A group of experts from the Portuguese company is already on the ground gathering information, which will be the basis for a set of recommendations on changes to be made to the network and to logistics.

SIMAB will also be responsible for defining the type of companies that will be responsible for managing the markets, but at the outset the possibility of SIMAB being a shareholder in the project has been ruled out.

According to Serôdio, the construction of the markets and assembly of the transport platforms will be “a good opportunity” for Portuguese companies.

The plan is part of an Angolan program for restructuring the logistics and distribution of essential goods to the Angolan population, and in its first stage will cover only the capital, Luanda. (macauhub)