New York - Angola has defended greater investment in various sectors, to reach the recommended levels, aimed at graduation to Middle Income Country by 2024.
Angola's position was expressed by Ambassador João Gimolieca, while addressing a 21st meeting of foreign ministers of the Least Developed Countries on Thursday in New York.
The Deputy Permanent Representative of Angola to the UN in New York said the multiple challenges the country experienced conditioned the progress of the recommended indicators, with stress to the human capital index and the economic vulnerability index.
He said that Angola's graduation will be based only on per capita income, having recalled the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which worsened the existing difficulties.
João Gimolieca said that the Angolan economy, which had registered slight growth after recovering from a period of recession caused by a drop in oil prices on the international market, had again suffered a setback.
He spoke of the Government’s permanent efforts to improve the indicators that will allow the implementation of a smooth transition strategy that leads to a successful and effective graduation, in line with the country's development plan and the objectives of sustainable development.
The diplomat said that Angola's graduation to Middle Income Country should be seen as a milestone in socio-economic progress, the result of a continuous effort to fill its gaps and development challenges.
The 21st meeting of LDC foreign ministers took place on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Malawi chairs the Least Developed Countries Group.
In February 2021, the United Nations postponed to 2024 Angola’s rise from the category of the Least Developed Country to Middle Income Country.
Angola's graduation was scheduled for February 2021, but was postponed to allow the country's economic recovery.