Taking a Brief Look at Angola

Country History

Angola is a country located in Southern Africa, nearing the western side of the southern tip, with a population of approximately 20 million. The nation is bordered by Namibia on the South, Zambia on the East, and the (Democratic) Republic of the Congo on the North.

Around the year 1482, Diego Cao, a Portuguese navigator, explored areas of the region with the intentions of establishing trading posts for Portugal. Over a number of years, Angola became an essential stop for trade routes with India and Southeast Asia. While being established as an essential trading post, Angola also became a vital aspect of the slave trade. The Portuguese settlements heavily focused on the trade of raw materials, goods and slaves to Europeans as well as for agricultural purposes in countries such as Brazil.

After centuries of trade, the Portuguese began to slowly immerse themselves into the center and infrastructure of Angola. In 1884, the Berlin Conference was held and resulted in the regulation of European colonization and exchange throughout many African territories. And so, in the late 19th century, with all territorial parameters laid out during the Conference, the Portuguese began fostering its own manufacturing and agricultural principals into the Angolan configuration. However, it was not until the 1920’s that the “effective occupation” terms of the Berlin Conference were actually achieved, by the Portuguese.

By the time World War II rolled around, there was an abundance of independence movements by the people of Angola that had been deterred by Portuguese military. Of these movements, the Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), part of the Marxist party, played a huge role. After 14 years of struggle, in 1975, Ang...

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... products and services that are normally not taxed are regulated by government.

Through formal markets, Angola attempts to reach the consumer-retail end through legitimate manufactures and retailers. The process usually consists of importing goods, storing in a safe location and the making these goods available through appropriate retail stores and small business that operate on a cash/inventory system. Though it is incredibly difficult to measure, the informal market also delivers basic goods and needs to the nation. Additionally, from personal experiences in similar countries, the informal market provides employment to thousands of citizens. These citizens work as small-time vendors to deliver retail goods to consumers. As the nation continues to progress, one can be certain that formal markets will soon be the most efficient way to deliver goods to consumers.