Lobito, Angola – 9 October 2024 | Africell Angola and the Carrinho Group have announced a series of strategic agreements to consolidate a multi-sector partnership, with the aim of developing the Lobito Corridor Project and fostering economic growth in key sectors of the Angolan economy including agriculture, trade, mobility and financial inclusion.
The announcement was made during a press conference held in Benguela province with the CEO of Carrinho Comércio, Marc Janczukowicz, Africell’s Group Chief Partnerships Officer, Robert Rollman, Carrinho Agri CEO David Maciel, and Afrimoney Managing Director Kátia da Conceição.
The partnership between Africell and Carrinho Group is structured around four main pillars, covering sectors that are essential for the country’s economic and social transformation:
- Agriculture – Collaboration between Carrinho Agri and Afrimoney to implement mobile money solutions in rural and agricultural regions where access to banking services is limited or non-existent, thereby promoting financial education and community inclusion.
- Commerce – Alliance between the Carrinho Group and Afrimoney to enable mobile money payments in BBEskebra shops, which will increase accessibility and security in commercial transactions.
- Distribution – Co-operation between Carrinho Group and Africell, allowing BBEskebra shops to act as distribution points for Africell products, and in so doing, bring telecommunications services closer to consumers.
- Mobility – Partnership between Carrinho Group and Africell to provide connectivity and mobility solutions in the regions where Carrinho Group operates, and by this means contribute to the development of communication infrastructures.
The partnership is born out of the participation of both companies in the Lobito Corridor project, an innovative multilateral initiative which aims to connect Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to global markets through upgraded communications and transportation infrastructure.
“From our first contact with Carrinho Group, we recognized enormous potential for us to collaborate for the good of the Angolan people,” said Robert Rollman, Africell Group’s Chief Partnerships Officer. “We knew right away that together we could use mobile telecommunications to promote agricultural production, create new sources of income, and improve the socio-economic reality of many people.”
David Maciel, CEO of Carrinho Agri, emphasised the transformative impact of this partnership on rural Angolan communities. He said:
“This partnership between Africell and Afrimoney is more than just a commercial agreement; it is a commitment to the sustainable and inclusive development of Angola’s rural communities. We know that farmers, particularly those in the most remote areas, face major challenges in accessing traditional financial services. With the integration of Afrimoney’s mobile money solutions, we are creating new opportunities for these producers to not only trade more efficiently, but also strengthen their economic power. The financial education we are providing is fundamental to social inclusion, enabling thousands of rural families to access a more formalised economy, while boosting their well-being and contributing to the country’s food security.”
“Afrimoney enters this partnership with Carrinho Group not only as a financial platform, but as a catalyst for digital transformation in agribusiness,” emphasised Kátia da Conceição, Afrimoney’s Managing Director. “By empowering farmers through financial literacy and bringing instant access to a digital wallet, loans, agri-insurance and other financial services, we will be promoting the sustainability and growth of this sector.”
In the context of financial inclusion and consumer accessibility to digital services, Marc Janczukowicz, CEO of Carrinho Comércio, said:
“Carrinho Comércio has always been guided by a commitment to proximity to end consumers, thereby guaranteeing access to goods from the basic food basket throughout the nation’s territory. Through this partnership with Africell and Afrimoney, we are taking another decisive step towards improving our customers’ experience by offering them secure and accessible digital payment solutions, especially in BBEskebra shops. This innovation not only facilitates transactions, but also promotes the financial inclusion of thousands of consumers who were previously outside the banking system. By democratizing access to these services, we are directly contributing to the reduction of economic inequalities and, in that way, allowing more Angolans to actively participate in the ever-expanding digital economy.”
The event was also attended by representatives of the Benguela Provincial Government, including members of the regional administration, Africell’s Regional Director for Benguela, Mário do Nascimento, as well as local entrepreneurs.
About Africell
Africell is a telecoms operator that is redefining the digital economy in Angola by offering affordable, high-quality mobile services. Africell, together with Afrimoney, is committed to expanding access to digital connectivity and providing inclusive financial solutions to its customers. With operations in several Angolan provinces, such as Luanda, Benguela, Huíla, Kwanza Sul and Bengo, Africell continues to expand its coverage nationwide. The company is the only US-owned mobile operator in Africa and, through its foundation, the Africell Impact Foundation, supports projects in areas such as the arts, education and sport. For more information, visit www.africell.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Carrinho Group
Carrinho is an Angolan family business whose vision is to be the leading company in the transformation of Africa through agribusiness. It has developed the first vertically integrated organisational structure in the food sector that manages all stages of the process: origination, transport, storage, transformation and marketing to the end consumer. Visit: www.carrinho-sa.com.
Contacts for the press:
– Dinamene Chongolola – 959 552 160 | dchongolola@africell.ao
– Elsa Gomes – 943 195 544| comunicacao@carrinho-sa.com
