Luanda, ANGOLA, December 23 - President João Lourenço Sunday in Luanda highlighted the attention the Government has been paying to the social sector, particularly to education and health, as part of its efforts to improving the quality of the services delivered to the public. ,

 

This year, the Government allocated to the education sector, through the State Budget, Akz 559.585.075.476,00, and Akz 388.465.188.031,00 to the health sector (1USD is Akz 306.802).

For 2019, the newly approved State Budget provides for an increment of the fund for education of Akz 662.441.894.770,00, and Akz 749.584.912.898,00 for the health sector.

The head of State was delivering the New Year Message, saying that significant progresses have been made in 2018 in such other areas as the safeguard of the citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.

According to him, Angola currently enjoys more freedom of thought, expression, press and respect for diversity of opinion.

"The civil society has a freer voice and is more listened to and consulted about the main matters of our society,” stressed the president who was sworn in on 26 September 2017.

As to the business segment, the president said there is now a more open dialogue between the Government and the private sector, as a result of the measures taken towards a better business environment.  

The aim, he explained, is to find the avenues leading to more concrete and effective policies and actions towards the diversification of the economy, increase of internal provision of basic goods and services.

 

 

These, he added, in addition to a rise in exports and the resulting attraction of foreign exchanges and creation of more jobs in 2019.

João Lourenço stressed that he fully trusts the business women and men who have been showing initiatives to overcome the constraints of the present situation.

The president pledged to support them in 2019 and continue to implement the Government’s agenda for the relaunch and strengthening of the national economy, seeking to address the needs and wellbeing of the Angolan people.  

João Lourenço said he counts on team work to face and overcome the challenges facing the country, for the benefit of Angola and Angolans.

A festive season of peace and unity

On the other hand, president João Lourenço highlighted the efforts made by the Government and other institutions of the State to raise the moral standards of the society, including the permanent fight against corruption.

According to João Lourenço, these efforts include the retrieval of the good and traditional values of the Angolan society, through civic and patriotic education and restoring of State’s authority.

The president mentioned the reduction of crime in large cities, illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources and vandalism of public property.

In His message, president João Lourenço said there has also been a fall in cases of illegal exploration of the forests, ivory trafficking and the resulting poaching of rare species and illegal trade of foreign currencies.

However, he admitted that the battle is still far from being over and that the effort to restore order and human dignity must continue.

He said he believes that the values of love for the country, of honesty, solidarity, respect for difference of opinions and tolerance must start to be instilled from within the families.

The head of State wished the Angolans and foreigners living in the country a happy festive season and prosperous new year, new achievements and urging them to privilege the values of peace, family unity, friendship, forgiveness and fraternity.

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