On January 15, 2026, Angolan President João Lourenço attended the commissioning ceremony of the Huatong Electrolytic Aluminum Project at the Aode Industrial Park, accompanied by Chinese
Ambassador to Angola Zhang Bin and multiple senior government officials. President Lourenço emphasized the crucial role of private investment in creating jobs and driving economic growth, speaking highly of the project’s significance for industrial and regional development. The project, invested and constructed by Hebei Huatong Wire & Cable Group Co., Ltd., has a Phase I capacity of 120,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum per year, with an investment of USD 250 million and the creation of approximately 1,200 jobs. Established in 2018, the Aode Industrial Park covers 400 hectares and offers comprehensive one-stop services. It was recognized as a Provincial-Level Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone of Shandong Province in 2021 and was included in the core area of Angola’s Dande Free Trade Zone in 2022, enjoying a series of policy incentives. By the end of 2025, the park had attracted 22 enterprises with around 4,000 employees. As a flagship platform for China-Africa cooperation, Aode Industrial Park will continue to foster industrial cluster development, support Angola’s industrial modernization and economic diversification, and contribute to the joint advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative.
