By George Ozalla
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has brought government agencies, financial institutions, indigenous companies and other players in Angola’s oil and gas industry together to look at ways of improving access to finance for local businesses.
The bank hosted a Local Content Development Forum in Luanda on September 9, 2026, with discussions centred on financing opportunities for indigenous companies operating within Angola’s oil and gas value chain.
The meeting focused on the financial needs of local businesses and the steps that could help them secure more funding to take part in different areas of the industry.
For many indigenous companies, access to finance is a major factor in their ability to win and execute contracts, purchase equipment, expand their businesses and provide services to larger operators.
The Luanda forum brought those concerns before financial institutions while giving government and industry stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the practical needs of businesses seeking to increase their presence in the oil and gas sector.
Afreximbank’s move comes at a time when African oil-producing countries are paying greater attention to local participation in the industry and the need for domestic businesses to gain a larger share of the opportunities created by oil and gas activities.
In Angola, where oil and gas form an important part of the economy, stronger indigenous participation can create more room for local companies to provide goods and services and build the capacity needed to compete for larger contracts.
The forum also provided an avenue for financial institutions to better understand the businesses operating within the sector and the type of funding required to support their growth.
Discussions among the stakeholders covered financing opportunities along the oil and gas value chain, bringing attention to areas where indigenous companies can secure funding and increase their operations.
Government institutions also have a role in creating the conditions for local companies to participate in the sector, while financial institutions provide the capital needed for businesses to invest and take on new opportunities.
Oil and gas operators are equally important because they provide much of the market for local goods and services.
Bringing the three sides together, therefore, gave the businesses an opportunity to put their financing concerns before institutions that can help address them.
For indigenous companies, stronger access to funding could make it easier to acquire machinery and equipment, employ skilled personnel, meet contractual requirements and take on projects that require substantial working capital.
The forum also drew attention to the need for closer links between local businesses and financial institutions so that viable companies can have a better chance of accessing funds for expansion and project execution.
Afreximbank said the meeting was convened to explore financing opportunities across Angola’s oil and gas value chain and support the growth of local content and indigenous participation.
The bank’s involvement places financing at the centre of efforts to give domestic companies a bigger role in Angola’s oil and gas industry.
