Partnership set to unlock regional trade, industrialisation, and AfCFTA-aligned growth
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), based in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, has signed a technical cooperation agreement with capital management firm Provest to support the development of a pioneering logistics platform and industrial complex in Luanda, Angola.
The agreement marks a significant step in expanding Coega’s presence on the African continent while advancing regional trade and industrial development.
At the centre of the collaboration is the Barro do Dande Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a flagship project positioned to become a transformative industrial hub in the region. The FTZ is designed to drive intercontinental and international trade, while attracting both foreign and domestic investment across key sectors including agroprocessing, mining supplies and logistics.
In addition, the development is expected to promote regional economic growth through beneficiation and value addition.
The Barro do Dande FTZ aligns closely with Angola’s broader economic development objectives, as well as the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to enhance intra-African trade, industrialisation, and economic integration.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held on January 28, Coega client solutions programme director Dr Siyabonga Simayi said the parties had committed to combining their expertise and experience to jointly support the development and operation of the FTZ. The developer and operator, Quimera Logistics, will lead the establishment of a cluster that includes a multimodal logistics hub and a petrochemical industrial complex. Quimera Logistics has already secured the necessary approvals and licences to advance the projects.
The agreement underscores the growing role of cross-border partnerships in accelerating industrial growth in Africa and positions the Barro do Dande FTZ as a strategic gateway for trade and investment in Southern and Central Africa.