It is hard not to be impressed by the building that houses the Angolan ministry of finance in Luanda. A recent multi-million dollar refurbishment has transformed a crumbling relic of Portuguese rule into a gleaming 21st-century edifice that would not look out of place in the financial districts of New York or London. But, like Angola itself, this great achievement must be seen in the context of the shabby infrastructure and extreme poverty that surrounds it. Although much has been done, much more needs to be done.
The minister of finance, José Pedro de Morais, has been at the forefront of the economic reconstruction the country has experienced since the ending of the 27 year civil war in 2002. A modest and unassuming man, he plays down his role as one of the key figures in the transformation of the country from the perennial sick man of Africa to the status of the fastest-growing economy on the continent. Instead, he emphasises the role played by all Angolans, while also accepting the huge challenges that remain.
