Washington - The Angolan Transport minister, Augusto Tomás, Wednesday in Washington spoke of the programmes of modernisation of about 30 airports and aerodromes in Angola.

The minister also mentioned the ongoing modernisation of the Luanda’s “4 de Fevereiro” International airport, and the construction of another three in the capital city, Benguela and Huila .

The Angolan minister said so when speaking of ongoing projects in the transport sector in the country, during a roundtable jointly organised by the Corporative Council on Africa (CCA)

and the US/Angola Chamber of Commerce, attended by representatives of institutions of the sector, Department of State, NGOs and Angolan diplomats.

At the meeting, Augusto Tomás also spoke of the rehabilitation and modernisation of the railways of Luanda, Moçâmedes and Benguela, rehabilitation of the ports of Lobito and Namibe, and conclusion of the construction of the ports of Cabinda, Barra do Dande and Porto Amboím.

Accompanied by Angolan ambassador to the United States, Josefina Pitra Diakite, the minister said that 300 cabs of a total of 500 arrived earlier this week in Luanda, to back the programme of transportation during the African Football Cup of Nations (CAN2010) Angola will host in four of its cities.

As part of his agenda, Augusto Tomás met Wednesday with his US counterpart, Ray LaHood, whom he briefed on the current situation of the transports sector in Angola, the Government efforts, investment and reconstruction programmes, with stress to the revamping of strategic transport companies.

Following negotiations of a bilateral agreement in air transportation between Angola and USA, the programme of renewal of TAAG fleet, the guarantee of an Eximbank funding, the restructuring of the airline industry in Angola in the areas of regulation, infrastructure, civil aviation, safety and security were also tackled.

In his turn, Ray LaHood expressed satisfaction at the meeting and assured financial support for all actions aimed at responding to air and maritime security enabling Delta Airline to start operating in Angola in exchange for Angolan airlines (TAAG) flights to the United States in 2010.

On the other hand, minister Augusto Tomás and his delegation met with representatives of TSA, FAA and FS, which are US agencies specialised in air  security, having discussed cooperation and issues concerning ICAO and IATA norms.