THE BANK REINFORCES ITS COMMITMENT TO DIVERSIFYING THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

Zaire, 6^th March 2023 - Banco Millennium Atlântico has strengthened the availability of a financing facility estimated at AOA 250 million, directed to artisanal fishermen in the province of Zaire under the Malembe-Malembe Project to support SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), in line with the BNA's Notice 10/2022, to support the diversification of the economy.

According to Isabel Espírito Santo, Executive Director of ATLANTICO, "Fishing in Zaire represents a strong labor activity and a source of livelihood for several families. This is a solution that reinforces ATLANTICO's commitment to supporting businesses, families, and communities, and aims to overcome the lack of financial resources that artisanal fishermen face in the province of Zaire. At ATLANTICO, we foster a culture of proximity that allows us to better understand local needs and concerns. This was the reason why our teams were on the field analyzing the conditions of fishermen and this solution was designed specifically for the benefit of this community of fishermen"

Promoting the development of fishing in the region to increase fishery production and meet the high demand are among the goals of the launch of this program. ATLANTICO is also committed to promoting good economically, socially and environmentally viable practices among fishing communities, in order to contribute to the development and adoption of sustainable fishing programs. The idea is to change the paradigm from simply fishing more today to fishing better for longer, while respecting the best practices of responsible fishing that ensure the preservation of marine ecosystems, the promotion of sustainable fishing activities and the improvement of the social well-being of fishing communities.

This type of program is also relevant in the sense that it allows the financing of solutions that promote sustainability, including generating positive social impacts in local communities, increasingly encouraging their integration into the formal cycle of the national economy.

Pedro Graça, Director of SMEs at ATLANTICO, says, "When you think of the Zaire or Cabinda Provinces, oil immediately comes to mind. Our role at ATLANTICO is to look at the fishing potential of Zaire's rich and vast sea and the needs of these families. We are focused on providing the tools to reduce risk and help fishermen make their projects happen according to the reality of each operator, as long as they responsibly and consistently assume that the amortizations fit into their cash flows.".

In 2022, 19 small projects were considered, for amounts ranging from AOA 2.4 to 5 million each, for a total of AOA 75 million. To these figures are added 4 projects financed and fully disbursed in 2021, for a total of AOA 24.5 million, amounting to AOA 99.5 million of financing granted to the artisanal fishing sector under this facility.

ATLANTICO, which is the second largest bank in credit with a portfolio of over AOA 450 billion, launched a year ago the campaign PME-ON, which promotes services and products aimed at the segment of small and medium enterprises.

For more information send an e-mail to: media@atlantico.ao