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FY 1999: Angola |
CHAPTER 9: BUSINESS TRAVEL Travel Advisory and Visas The following Travel Warning was issued by the Department of State on July 15, 1998: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Angola because of continued unsettled conditions, violent crime, and the heightened potential for political-military instability due to the lack of progress in the peace process since April, 1998. Travel within Angola remains unsafe due to bandit attacks, undisciplined police and troops, low intensity military actions in several interior provinces, and unexploded land mines in rural areas. Foreign nationals, especially independent entrepreneurs, are subject to arbitrary detention and/or deportation by immigration and police authorities. Americans who find travel to Angola unavoidable are strongly urged to contact the U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information. Travel outside Luanda should not be initiated without contacting the U.S. Embassy for the latest information on security conditions in the provinces they plan to visit. For further information on Angola, see the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet on Angola. U.S. citizens are required to obtain Angolan visas and must present an international immunizations record on arrival or face the prospect of mandatory inoculations at the airport. Holidays Angola's official 1998 holidays are as follows: January 1 (New Year's Day), January 4 (Martyr's Day), February 4 (Beginning of the Armed Fight Day), February 24 (Carnival Day-- varies by year), March 8 (Women's Day), March 27 (Holy Friday - varies by year), May 1 (Labor Day), June 1 (Children's Day), November 2 (Memorial Day), November 11 (Veteran's Day), and December 25 (Christmas Day). Business Infrastructure The U.S. Embassy in Luanda has an economic and commercial officer, who is available to discuss recent economic and business developments. All commercial services are coordinated by a full-time Foreign Service National employee, Maria Josefa Dos Santos, who is an expert in commercial and business affairs in Angola. She is well informed on all commercial and economic matters, and is an excellent source of valuable insights into doing business in Angola. Agricultural exports are supported by another Foreign Service National employee, Raul Danda, who is trained and experienced in promoting U.S. agricultural exports and who is in frequent contact with exporters, importers, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ground Transportation The general condition of roads and related infrastructure is extremely poor, even within Luanda. Many roads are unpaved and impassible in the rainy season. Others are impassible due to landmines or banditry. Gasoline is available in most urban areas. Rental cars are available for hire in Luanda and Cabinda. Hiring a driver is recommended. Driving at night is unsafe. Driving in areas outside of major metropolitan areas is unsafe due to unexploded mines, undisciplined police and troops, and groups of armed bandits. The embassy strongly recommends that anyone planning surface travel in Angola register with the consular section and receive a briefing on personal security. In a few isolated areas of Angola, notably in the Cabinda enclave, foreigners may be the targets of political violence, including seizure and burning of vehicles by insurgent groups. Angola has few public busses or other public transport. Air Transportation Air France, Air Namibe, Angolan Airlines (TAAG), Sabena, South African Airways, TAP (Portugal) and several regional carriers provide international service to Luanda. No U.S. flag airlines service Angola, and no direct service exists between the U.S. and Angola. Internally, TAAG, SAL, and several smaller charter or air taxi companies provide domestic flights. Given the difficulties and dangers in surface travel, air travel is often the only viable alternative when traveling to the interior of Angola. As of June 1998, there is no airport departure tax for Angolans or foreign nationals. Rail Transportation Angola's three major rail lines (Luanda-Malange, Benguela-DROC, and Namibe-Menongue) are all not operative, either as a result of war-damage or neglect. Of the three, only the Benguela Railroad is currently being considered for rehabilitation. Efforts have yet to get underway, and many observers doubt the viability of the project. Rail traffic for both passengers and cargo is currently limited to the 35 kilometers of line between the cities of Lobito and Benguela. Boat Transportation International shipping reaches Angola via the ports of Luanda, Lobito, and Namibe. Languages Portuguese is the official language of Angola. English or French is spoken by many business persons. Communications Facilities With one telephone per 250 people, Angola ranked 18th out of 22 African countries ranked by the United Nations for number of telephones per capita. Angola's telecommunications infrastructure is overburdened, and service is deteriorating. Both domestic and international telecommunications are difficult. Most corporate offices and tourist class hotels have telephones; many have faxes. The cellular phone system is oversubscribed and frequently inaccessible during business hours. Many large international corporations rely on high frequency radio transmissions for routine communication. There are two local Internet providers. The international country code for Angola is 244; the city code for Luanda is 2, and the cellular code is 9. Housing Short-term visitors normally stay in tourist-class hotels located in major urban areas. Selection is limited and expensive. Due to security considerations, accommodation in rural areas is generally not recommended. Resident expatriates generally live in rehabilitated housing in the major urban centers, though the market for such housing is tight and growing worse. Prices are correspondingly high, with rents of $5,000 to $8,000 per month being paid for residences in the 1500-2000 square foot range. Power and water are generally available in major cities, but supply interruptions, lasting from hours to days, are common. Health With a life expectancy of 47 years, Angola ranks near the bottom in a 1997 World Bank survey of African nations. Official Angolan studies place life expectancy at 42 years. Infant mortality is 124 per 1000 and 274 per thousand by age five. Only 16 percent of Angolan children have received basic vaccinations. Diseases thought to have been largely under control in Angola, including polio and sleeping sickness, have reemerged. World Health Organization estimates show an HIV infection rate of between 1.5 and 8 percent, varying by province. Surveillance of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases is insufficient to generate meaningful statistics, but surveys of hospitals and clinics have shown that infection rates continue to climb. Choloraquin-resistant malaria and other tropical diseases are prevalent throughout the country. Just under three percent of Angolans suffer from physical or mental deficiency, and 53 percent suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to Angolan Government statistics. Angola's national health facilities are below acceptable standards. Several private clinics in Luanda provide acceptable levels of care. Full immunizations and malaria prophylaxis are recommended. Water quality in major urban areas is poor. Boiling or drinking domestically produced bottled water may be insufficient to guard against illness. The embassy recommends only imported bottled water. Raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables should be avoided. Food A variety of foods are normally available in Angola's urban areas, although expensive. Several stores carry imported goods. There are few western standard restaurants and prices are high.[end of document]
Note* International Copyright, United States Government, 1998 (or other year of first publication). All rights under foreign copyright laws are reserved. All portions of this publication are protected against any type or form of reproduction, communications to the public and the preparation of adaptations, arrangement and alterations outside the United States. U. S. copyright is not asserted under the U.S. Copyright Law, Title17, United States Code.