China’s beer investment a surprise hit in Angola

Beer-drinking Angolans in the capital, Luanda now have even more ways to quench their thirst with the arrival of Bela, a brand new beer brewed by the China Investment Fund (CIF) Luanda Brewery company.

Made in the newly established brewery in Luanda with an investment of $180m from CIF, Bela is now in all shopping centres in the capital and proving a huge hit with local beer drinkers.

“I love Bela, the beer seems light but very tasty,” said 45-year-old Sebastio Junior, who was taking a 12-bottle pack of Bela from the shelters of the Jumbo shopping mall in southern Luanda. “I called my friends to join me for Bela to mark Labor Day as we are having a day off.”

The brewery is supported by the Angolan government and is one of the first Chinese enterprises operating in Angola. Angola’s President, Eduardo dos Santos is keen to diversify Angola’s oil-dependent economy and during an inspection tour of the plant on 9 October last year, gave the beer its name.

General manager of the brewery, Buhe Bater said: “We are determined to produce the best beer in Angola and Africa as a whole. Beer sells well here and it is normally warm all year round in Luanda and most parts of the country so there is no reason for sluggish sales.”