Ten years ago, Angola was in a desperate situation: Years of civil war and political instability had ravaged the country and depleted its resources, while its infrastructure was in tatters.
After all the major people involved in Angola's maritime industry clearly recognized the need to make improvements and the need to get more investment, only two questions remained: Who would lead the charge, and how would they do that?
Chairman Francisco Venancio: China's importance in trade
Angola may be China's main trading partner in Africa and a place where China has invested heavily, but other countries are also looking at the South-West African nation as a potentially important regional transport hub.
Deciding to spend $50 million on a port in Angola is not as easy as it may sound, but, for the consortium in charge, it is not only reasonable, it is the start of a much longer business project.
Lobito port is rapidly becoming a catalyst for economic growth and development for the entire region, and is looking to help Benguela province return to its glory days as an industrial power.