• Citic Construction commits $250 million over five years to develop 100,000 hectares in Angola.
• Initial clearing underway on 8,000 hectares; target to cultivate up to 20,000 hectares by next year.
• Angola will export 60% of crops to China, aiming to reduce Beijing’s dependence on U.S. imports.

Angola’s agricultural sector currently represents about 10% of its GDP, yet farmers till only 10% of the country’s available farmland. Citic Construction, a Chinese state-owned firm, plans to change this with a $250 million investment over the next five years.

Fan Juntao, Citic’s managing director in Angola, told Bloomberg on July 21 that the money will develop nearly 100,000 hectares, focusing on soya and maize cultivation.

The company has begun clearing 3,000 hectares in Cuanza Norte and 5,000 hectares in Malanje, with planting scheduled to start once surface rights are obtained. According to the Chinese leader, Citic expects to reach up to 20,000 hectares next year and will implement a support fund alongside high-yield technology to achieve maize yields of eight tonnes and soya yields of five tonnes per hectare.

Angolan authorities expect 60% of the production to go to China, while the rest will feed local consumers. This project aligns with China’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on soya imports and derivatives from the U.S., especially amid ongoing trade tensions.

In a related move, on July 3 China’s General Administration of Customs approved imports of soya cake from Ethiopia, further diversifying its procurement options in Africa.

This article was initially published in French by Espoir Olodo

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum