Business Travelers to Angola
Chapter 8: Business Travel
Business Customs
Portuguese is the official language of Angola. Few Angolans speak English at a level appropriate for business transactions; competent interpreters are often necessary. Business cards are helpful and developing personal face-to-face relationships with local contacts is essential.
Please consult the US Department of State’s latest Consular Information Sheet and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. All travelers are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. citizens are required to obtain visas before arriving. Visa applications and information as well as contact information can be found at www.angola.gov. Visa approvals may take several weeks. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to register with the US Embassy upon arrival. Registering for the Warden system can be done at the American Consular Section located at Rua Houari Boumedienne 32, in the Miramar section of Luanda. For further information, call +244-222-641-000 or e-mail consularluanda@state.gov . Travelers must also demonstrate proof of inoculation against yellow fever with a World Health Organization immunization card or face a mandatory vaccination at the airport upon arrival.
U .S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should allow sufficient time for visa issuance if required. Visa applicants should refer to the following sites:
State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
United States Visas Website: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov
United States Embassy in Luanda Website: http://luanda.usembassy.gov
According to 2005 estimates, Angola has 100,000 fixed lines and over 1,300,000 cellular phone users. Angola’s two main cellular phone operators, Unitel and Movicel now provide service to all provincial capitals. Over the past year, users have doubled. Rapid growth in the number of cellular phones has strained the system, making both domestic and international dialing difficult. Most corporate offices and tourist class hotels have telephones and faxes. In addition, many large corporations and humanitarian organizations also rely on high frequency radios for routine communication.
Most major hotels offer Internet access in their business centers. There are a number of Internet cafes in the capital city Luanda and a few in provincial capitals. According to the International telecommunications Union, approximately 41,000 people use the Internet in Angola. Presently Angola has 12 Internet service providers available to the public.
Road Transportation
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Of 72,000 kilometers of road, less than 20,000 is paved. Even some of the paved roads are unusable due to downed bridges and landmines, though most of the major roads linking provincial capitals have been demined. The general condition of all roads and related infrastructure is poor, even within the city limits of Luanda. Gasoline is available in most urban areas. Rental cars are available for hire in Luanda and some major provincials cities. Driving outside of metropolitan areas can be dangerous due to poor road conditions, especially at night.
Similar to American car rental agencies, Angolan rental agencies have price schedules that vary depending upon length of rental and class of car. Most prices include insurance. An international driver’s license is not required but recommended. Hiring a local driver is highly recommended, as driving through unmarked streets, confusing routes, and dangerous traffic can be a daunting task for a visiting traveler.
Air transportation
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Most air traffic to Angola arrives via the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda. Air France, British Airways, TAP (Portugal), South African Airways, TAAG (The Angolan national airline), Namibia Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and a few regional carriers service Luanda. Houston Express is a private charter service operated by U.S. based World Airways for the national oil company’s subsidiary, Sonair, and is available only to members of the U.S. Africa Energy Association. TAAG, Air Gemini and other smaller charter or air taxi companies provide domestic flights. Airport departure taxes are generally included in the price of the ticket.
Railway Transportation
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Little of the once extensive railway infrastructure currently functions due to war damage and neglect. The rail link to the port of Luanda is not currently operational; rehabilitation work is currently underway and temporarily interrupts service from Luanda to Viana (35 kilometers). The Benguela railroad, which formerly ran 1,340 kilometers from the Lobito port to the Zambian border, currently runs only 154 kilometers between the cities Lobito, Benguela and Cubal. Only the service between Namibe and Matala (320 kilometers) comes close to pre-war levels. Rehabilitating the lines is a priority for the government of Angola, and work is scheduled for completion in 2007.
Marine Transportation
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International shipping can reach Angola via the ports of Luanda, Lobito, Namibe and Cabinda. No organized river-borne passenger transport companies operate in Angola today. Shipments bound for Angolan ports require a Certificado de Embarque, the loading certificate, to unload cargo upon arrival. It is the responsibility of the shipper to obtain the document before the shipment leaves for Angola from the Conselho Nacional de Carregadores (CNC) representative at the port of origin before the shipment leaves for Angola. Most major ports have a CNC representative from whom a loading certificate can be obtained. For more information contact the Angolan Embassy in the U.S. or the U.S.- Angola Chamber of Commerce.
Portuguese is the official language of Angola. Native languages include Kimbundu, Bakongo, Ovimbundu, and others. French is often spoken in the northern border regions with English occasionally spoken in communities near the Zambian and Namibian borders. Interpreters are often necessary because few Angolans outside the petroleum industry speak English fluently.
Angola’s national health facilities are below western standards. Some private clinics in Luanda provide adequate levels of trauma care. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended while in Angola. Lariam/Mefloquine, Malarone, and Doxycyline are commonly used malaria prophylaxis drugs that must be taken continuously, starting before arrival in Luanda. The Angolan government requires a yellow fever vaccination. Those who come without proof of vaccination risk on-the-spot vaccination at the airport in Luanda. Other immunizations recommended before entering the country are Hepatitis A and B, polio, rabies, typhoid, tetanus and meningitis.
Water quality in major urban areas is poor, and because of this periodic cholera outbreaks do occur. It is important to be extremely careful with water and food. Boiling water may be insufficient to guard against illness; imported bottled water or water from a distiller is recommended. If served vegetables, especially salad, make sure that it has been properly treated. Raw, unpeeled fruit should be avoided.
The US Center for Disease Control estimates a nationwide HIV/AIDS infection rate of 2.8 percent, though figures vary widely by province. Surveillance of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases is insufficient to generate meaningful statistics, but surveys of hospitals and clinics have shown infection rates to be rising.
Length of Workweek
Government Offices | 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m / Monday to Friday |
Other business | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m/ Monday to Friday |
Major stores are open on Sundays for half a day but almost all others are closed
Embassy Holiday Schedule 2007
The following Angolan and US holidays will be observed as Embassy holidays in calendar year 2007.
United States (USA) and Angola (A)
- New Year’s Day: January 1 (US & A)
Martyr's Day: January 4 (A)
Martin Luther King’s Birthday: January 15 (USA)
Initiation of Armed Struggle: February 5 (A)
President's Birthday: February 19 (US)
Carnival Day: February 20 (A)
International Women’s Day: March 8 (A)
Angolan Peace Day: April 4 (A)
Good Friday: April 06 (A)
Worker’s Day: May 1 (A)
African Day: May 25 (A)
International Children’s Day: June 1 (A)
National Hero’s Day: September 18 (A)
Columbus Day: October 08 (USA)
Memorial Day: November 2 (A)
Independence Day/Veteran’s Day: November 12 (USA/A)
Thanksgiving Day: November 22 (USA)
Christmas Day: December 25 (USA/A)
: May 28 (USA)
*Actual date varies each year
A deposit of 100 percent of the duties and taxes to be paid on the declared value of goods or equipment temporarily entering Angola must be provided to customs officials at the time of entry. If importing for a trade show, the importer should provide a letter from the organizer verifying participation in the event in addition to the documents required for regular importation. Pre-shipment inspection may be required. The deposit can be waived for official trade shows with authorization from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Get access to U.S. Commercial Service for Southern Africa.
U.S. Citizen Services
Commercial Information
Warden Information
Registration
Living in Angola
Medical Information
