AIPEX – Angola Investment Promotion Agency Guide
AIPEX (Agencia de Investimento Privado e Promocao das Exportacoes de Angola) is Angola’s official investment promotion agency, serving as the primary interface between foreign investors and the Angolan government. Registration with AIPEX is the gateway to accessing incentives under the Private Investment Law (Lei 10/18) and obtaining the legal framework for capital repatriation.
Role and Services
AIPEX provides the following services to investors:
- Investment registration – Processing and approval of private investment project proposals
- Incentive certification – Determining eligibility for tax holidays, import duty exemptions, and other PIP Law benefits
- One-stop facilitation – Coordinating between government agencies (tax authority, customs, land registry, sector ministries) on behalf of registered investors
- Information services – Providing data on investment opportunities, regulatory requirements, and sector-specific conditions
- Aftercare – Post-registration support for operational issues and compliance
- Export promotion – Supporting Angolan exporters in accessing international markets
Registration Process
Step 1: Project Proposal Submission
Investors submit a detailed investment proposal to AIPEX, including:
- Project description, sector, and location
- Total investment amount and capital structure (equity vs. debt)
- Projected employment creation (Angolan nationals and expatriates)
- Implementation timeline and phased capital deployment schedule
- Technology transfer and training commitments
- Environmental and social impact considerations
- Requested incentives under the PIP Law
Step 2: Technical Evaluation
AIPEX conducts a technical assessment of the proposal, evaluating:
- Alignment with national development priorities
- Economic viability and financial projections
- Employment generation potential
- Foreign exchange impact (import substitution or export generation)
- Environmental compliance
Step 3: Approval
For investments meeting the criteria, AIPEX issues a Certificate of Private Investment Registration (CRIP), which:
- Formally registers the investment under the PIP Law
- Specifies the approved incentives and their duration
- Establishes the investor’s right to profit repatriation
- Creates a compliance framework with reporting obligations
Timeline
- Standard projects: 15-30 business days from complete submission to CRIP issuance
- Complex or large-scale projects: May require additional review time and inter-ministerial coordination
- Incomplete submissions – The most common cause of delays; ensuring documentation is complete before submission is essential
PIP Law Incentives Accessed Through AIPEX
The Private Investment Law (Lei 10/18) provides a tiered incentive structure based on investment size, sector, and location:
| Incentive | Typical Benefit |
|---|---|
| Industrial Tax reduction | Reduced rates or holidays for qualifying periods |
| Import duty exemption | Exemption on equipment, raw materials, and inputs |
| Profit repatriation | Guaranteed right to repatriate dividends and profits |
| Capital repatriation | Right to repatriate invested capital |
| Property transfer tax (SISA) exemption | For qualifying property acquisitions |
| Value-added tax incentives | VAT exemptions on qualifying imports |
Incentive levels are enhanced for investments in:
- Priority sectors (agriculture, manufacturing, technology)
- Special Economic Zones (Luanda-Bengo ZEE, Viana Industrial Pole)
- Provinces outside Luanda (geographic diversification incentive)
Compliance Obligations
AIPEX-registered investors must:
- Implement the project according to the approved proposal and timeline
- Meet employment creation commitments, including Angolan workforce participation targets
- File periodic progress reports with AIPEX
- Maintain proper accounting records and tax compliance
- Comply with environmental and sector-specific regulations
Failure to meet obligations can result in incentive revocation.
Practical Advice
- Engage Angolan legal counsel experienced in AIPEX registrations before submitting proposals
- Prepare comprehensive project documentation in Portuguese
- Align investment proposals with National Development Plan priorities for smoother approval
- Build realistic timelines – overoptimistic projections invite compliance challenges later
- Maintain ongoing communication with AIPEX during the post-registration phase
- Use the AIPEX aftercare service to resolve operational issues with government agencies
Contact and Location
AIPEX headquarters is located in Luanda. The agency maintains a website and can be contacted through formal channels. Investors are advised to engage through legal counsel or directly request a meeting with the investment department.
For the complete legal framework, see PIP Law (Lei 10/18). For step-by-step market entry guidance, see Getting Started.