OREANDA-NEWS. August 19, 2013. The Russia-Angola Business Forum took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

The possibility of holding this event was discussed last October at a meeting between VTB President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin and President of Angola Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Several Russian companies, KAMAZ, the Gidroproyekt Institute of RusHydro Group and Uralvagonzavod, gave presentations at the Russia-Angola Business Forum. The Russian participants also heard about the potential of the Angolan market. Representatives of Gazprom Neft, Technopromexport, Inter RAO UES, Alrosa, Russian Railways International and Rosoboronexport also took part in the forum.

Russian and Angolan companies interested in collaboration had the opportunity to have bilateral meetings to discuss the existing and prospective areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in railway infrastructure development, mining industry and energy.

The forum was addressed by Angolan Minister of Economy Abrahao Gourgel, Minister of Geology and Mining Francisco Queiros, Minister of Industry Bernarda Henriques da Silva, representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and other government agencies. Russian Ambassador to Angola Dmitry Lobach gave a welcoming speech. VTB representatives spoke about the Group’s opportunities to structure various forms of financing in Angola.

Vasily Titov, First Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board, said, "VTB Group is actively developing on the Angolan market, where we see great potential. Russian companies are very interested in Angola and the African countries to the south of the Sahara. We are ready to help Russian companies reach those markets and to fund their projects. I believe this forum will contribute to the economic collaboration between our countries through new agreements between Russian and Angolan companies."