UAE Inks CEPA Agreement with Angola to Enhance Trade and Financial Links
United Arab Emirates and Angola Ink Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Angola have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a significant step towards enhancing economic cooperation beyond trade and investment between the two nations.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Foreign Trade in the UAE, announced the agreement, stating that it strengthens the UAE's presence in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also highlighted Angola's young population, natural resources, and rising GDP, which make it a promising partner.
The CEPA is expected to eliminate tariffs and reduce trade barriers between the UAE and Angola, providing a boost to non-oil trade. In 2024, non-oil trade between the two countries amounted to USD 2.17 billion, and the agreement is projected to raise this figure to more than USD 10 billion annually by 2033.
The agreement will create stronger frameworks for digital trade and services, and it is estimated to add around USD 1 billion to the GDP of both nations. It will also generate nearly 30,000 jobs, according to Dr. Al Zeyoudi.
The CEPA will support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and startups through collaboration platforms. This is particularly significant as these sectors are crucial for economic growth and job creation.
The strategic location of Angola on the Atlantic coast could potentially make it a key logistics hub. The agreement will open new opportunities in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, mining, logistics, tourism, and healthcare.
Trade between the two countries in the first half of 2025 grew nearly 30 percent year-on-year, indicating a positive trend. UAE imports from Angola primarily consist of diamonds, gold, copper, and grains, while UAE exports to Angola include petroleum products, metals, machinery, and consumer goods.
The CEPA is built upon growing bilateral relations between the UAE and Angola. However, the name of the Angolan government representative involved in signing the agreement was not provided in the search results.
It's worth noting that the CEPA does not have any specific provisions for advertising. This agreement is expected to expand trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the UAE and Angola, contributing to the UAE's wider strategy to boost foreign trade to AED 4 trillion (USD 1.1 trillion) by 2031.
