Luanda – The Angolan economy might become Africa’s fifth in growth by  2014, economist Alves da Rocha said Thursday in Luanda.
 
 
“Would this wish be attained, Angolan economy will overtake the economies of Morocco and Libya, only becoming second to South Africa, Egypt and Algeria”, said the specialist while speaking on “Angola’s strategic position in Africa” under the Forum on Strategy and Competitiveness held in Luanda.
 
 
According to Alves da Rocha who is also a university lecturer, the project is based on the satisfactory evolution recorded over the last few years on the National Gross Income, on the dynamics of the economy and on inhabitants’ purchasing power.
 
 
This position, he suggested, can also be attained through a consolidated business strategy, major openness of the national economy to foreign investment and a major competitiveness of companies and in other sectors of activity.
 
 
He mentioned that in the years 2007 and 2008, Angola’s economy was consecutively Africa’s seventh, from among 48 countries, only second to South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, according to data released by the international magazine Economist Intelligent.

 
In those years under analysis, he noted, Angola presented Gross National Income values that enabled it occupy that position that, to him, constitutes a challenge for local and foreign investors.
 

According to him, attaining that position means there is a space in Africa that can be conquered more and more, judging from Angola’s economic potential of over the last years, which requires more investment and entrepreneurial attitude.
 
 
He also stated that the magazine’s research show that Angola is in a position to becoming a regional power in Africa, mentioning to that matter the country’s military might, armed forces’ equipment and its political influence.
 
 
 
In 2008, the Angolan economy was the first from within the Economic Community of East African States (ECCAS), followed by those of Cameroon, Gabon, DR Congo, Chad and Rwanda.
 
 
As to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the source said, Angola in 2008 was second major economy, after South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia.

 
Alves da Rocha’s presentation was part of the Forum on Strategy and Competitiveness, jointly sponsored by Angola’s State-owned “Banco de Poupança e Credito” (BPC) and the Angolan Forum for Competitiveness, Innovation and Development (FACIDE), intended to contribute to the economic and commercial dynamics recorded in the country of late, through talks with participation of local and foreign economists.

 
The event had as its main guest the 2008 Noble Prize in Economics.