China-donated professional tech training center inaugurated in Angola

Angolan President Joao Lourenco cut the ribbon on Friday to inaugurate a professional training center donated by the Chinese government in the city of Huambo in the central province of Huambo.

At the ceremony, Teresa Dias, minister of public administration, labor and social security, thanked the Chinese government for its support in the creation of talent in the country and said the inauguration of the Integrated Center for Technological Training (CINFOTEC) Huambo will contribute to the improvement of training quality and help bridge the large gap in the specialization of cutting-edge technology in Angola.

Chen Feng, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Angola, said the Chinese government has always supported the capacity building in Africa. Last year, China proposed three initiatives to assist in Africa's modernization, including the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

The completion of this project will help more young Angolans realize their dreams and provide strong talent support for Angola's autonomous and sustainable development, she said.

The project, which was built by Zhongding International Engineering Co., Ltd, designed and project-managed by China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd, covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters. It includes 30 laboratories and six workshops for robotics, machining, computer science, measurement, and automotive repair.

The construction of the project began on June 24, 2021, and it was completed on October 31, 2023. Angola and China signed a handover certificate for the project on Thursday.

"Over the last 10 to 15 years, China has proven to be Angola's biggest commercial and political partner, with the partnership yielding fruits in various segments, and professional training and employment have been prioritized in these last years," Secretary of State for Labor and Social Security Pedro Filipe said in an interview with Xinhua.

According to Filipe, cooperation with China in talent creation is effective and reliable. Angola has also established cooperative projects with several Chinese companies, offering young Angolans internship and training opportunities.

Geraldo Pambasange, the director of CINFOTEC Huambo, said the center will train 2,400 students per year in its first phase, with the first class scheduled to start next Monday.

"This is a modern and well-equipped training center, and our teachers have also been trained in China. We are very grateful for China's help and look forward to continuing cooperation with China in the future," he said.