Luanda, Angola: Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) African Department, met yesterday in Luanda with President João Lourenço of Angola. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Selassie issued the following statement:
"It was very good to meet President Lourenço this morning. We had constructive discussions on Angola's economy and the actions the government is taking in this challenging external environment.
"I congratulated him on Angola's strong economic performance in 2024 and his administration's efforts in reducing inflation and containing public debt vulnerabilities.
"We discussed approaches needed to contain emerging risks to preserve macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. In this regard, I noted that the IMF shares the President's priorities of putting public finances on a sustainable path, while protecting the most vulnerable and maintaining the growth momentum.
"The reforms the government has been pursuing in recent years have been gaining traction, as evidenced by the country's improving attractiveness to private investment.
"I emphasized the IMF's readiness to continue supporting Angola's efforts, and our commitment to maintain and strengthen our longstanding partnership.
"I thanked President Lourenço, his Ministers, and the Governor of the Banco Nacional de Angola for the warm reception and very productive discussions they afforded me during my visit."
