(Ecofin Agency) - The government of Angola wishes to raise taxes on imported meat, as it wants promote local production thereby saving about $200 million of foreign currencies yearly.

According to the Jornal de Angola, the nation spends around $1 billion in meat imports every year. José Sévérino, the President of Angola’s Industrial Association, believes that importers could contribute to the change in dynamic which the government wishes to establish by directing the money they spend in meat imports into local production.

In face of oil price slump which affects its economy, the country which is one of Africa’s largest oil producers must now look at diversifying its sources of revenues and better control them.

Meat imported by Angola mainly comes from China, Portugal, the USA and Brazil.

Aaron Akinocho