A new Goethe-Institut and better flight connections to Germany: State Secretary Peter Ammon sees concrete evidence of more intense cooperation between Angola and Germany during his visit to Luanda. Ammon opened the new Goethe-Institut in Luanda along with Goethe-Institut President Professor Lehmann and Angolan Deputy Minister of Economy Job Graça. Ammon declared, “This year we have succeeded in laying a solid foundation for our cooperation.” In addition to language courses, the Goethe-Institut offers a rich cultural programme that illustrates the many sides of Germany.

An official visit to Berlin by Angolan President dos Santos in February 2009 helped intensify relations. An agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, education and science was signed within the framework of the visit. The opening of the Goethe-Institut serves to breathe life into the agreement.

According to Ammon, the institute was “another milestone in relations between our countries”. Germany aims to engage with Africa as an equal partner. It was for this purpose that Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier launched the Aktion Afrika initiative.
A number of meetings with political contact persons, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Assunção dos Anjos and Deputy Minister of Economy Job Graça are part of the State Secretary's visit.

Ammon is being accompanied by a German business delegation of representatives from the fields of construction, energy and engineering who were interested in sounding out the possibilities for projects in this southwest African country. He travelled to Angola on the first Lufthansa flight along a route that is intended to provide a better connection to Germany. The airline will as from now offer flights to Germany twice a week. This is another sign of the interest in stronger economic relations.