An ex-colony may be getting the better, in economic terms, of its old master

Speaking of role reversal, I believe nobody can better Britain's example.

They have received far more investment from USA and India ( in recent years large investments in manufacturing by Tata and Mittal ) than Portugal will ever receive from Brazil or Angola.

But then the write up smacks of chauvinism, of a tattered European elitist pride which has no place in today's world.

Actually, this isn't the first role reversal between master and colony in Portugal's history. 200 years ago the entire Portuguese establishment (royal family, government, bureaucracy, nobility) fled Napoleon's advancing troops and set themselves up in Rio de Janeiro which soon became the first and so far only colonial city that became capital of the empire it belonged to. Soon people were complaining about Portugal turning into its colony's colony.

Have you looked at Brazilian companies' investments in Portugal? they dwarf anything Angola can do. And there are far more Portuguese citizens (often bi-nationals) in Brazil now than 10 years ago.

http://ahmedsuniverse.blogspot.com/

As far as I am concerned, this is wonderful non-news, because everybody in Portugal knows about it and is HAPPY about it. Although I do not agree with the ruling Angolan politics, elite greed and the rest, things slowly come together. Just like with Brazil, there is a time when common language and shared history create the conditions for a closer relationship. That is lusophony at its best.
The fact that Angolans are investing in Portugal, is no reversal of roles: in fact, Portuguese companies are deeply committed to the Angolan market, just like to the Brazilian Market when they can afford it, and for that matter to the Mozambican market too.
After all this is a globalized world and people tend do congregate regarding their affinities.
It is for me a source of joy to know that Mrs. Isabel dos Santos has a knack to invest in Portugal and not in Spain... That Angolans who can afford it make their shopping in Lisboa rather then in Madrid, Paris or London.
Things will get better when Angola abides more deeply by the rule of law, its economy and rules get more predictable and clear and investments get safer. There used to be hundreds of thousands of Portuguese nationals living in Angola 35 years ago. Their children were born there, they are alive and kicking, many have Angolan nationality, why should they not be going there? Our Prime Minister, after all, was born in Angola... Just like the Minister of Justice, or the Minister of Agriculture, and I guess some of them might have the Angolan passport!

Angola is turning into another Nigeria: a filthmound of corruption, exploitation, inequality and incompetence.

Luanda of today resembles Lagos of the 70s. They even share the always telling tag of being amongst the world's most expensive cities to live in. Pity because this place was once the hope of Africa. The misery is partially due to the West's criminal support of UNITA in the civil war which only ended few years ago but it is also due to the fact once former African revolutionaries come to power they become like leeches as they sink their greedy nozzles into the nation's body and suck it dry. And just like leeches they cannot be moved till their heads get burnt.

Didn't the Economist call Portugal the only African colony in Europe back in the 1980s? Well guess you weren't so far off afterall. Who would have said=

There are many African countries where the economic prospects are way better than in Europe or in America. I see opportunities everywhere I go In Africa. I wouldn't trade my life here in Namibia, just as an example, for life in New York where I did my studies. Life is a lot easier for me here, my business is doing very well here. I would probably be driving a Taxi in Manhattan or delivering newspapers had I decided to remain in New York City.

You could do a similar article about Britain and say, Singapore or Dubai, with exactly the same conclusion.

I did not like this article. I think is quite simplistic. I think the reasons why Portuguese go to Angola now are the same reasons why the British went to Africa in the nineteenth century: to search for a land rich of resources and opportunities. The main difference is that now the Portuguese go to a sovereign country. It really does not matter who is the circumstantial boss. I thing both countries, Angola and Portugal have a lot to win about this situation. It is important to underline that the public education in Angola was decimated after many years of civil war. This led to a serious shortage of skilled workers and professionals. Angola gains highly educated and motivated people that can boost the local economy and Portugal gains influence in its former colony. I am sure that, besides the anecdotal evidence that is presented in this article about the Angolan investment in Portugal, Portugal has a big big deficit in the capital account with respect to Angola i.e. there is much more investment going from Portugal to Angola than in the opposite direction.

Petroleum riches are a big advantage

"old master" is a little bit harsh. I've noticed the English speaking press refers to Portuguese ex-colonies like that. Seen that used for Brazil as well. I think it's un-PC....

..... just SAYING

There was a notion current last century, to which both Salazar and some of the 1974 revolutionaries gave lip-service, that Portugal was really an African country that had somehow strayed into Europe. At the time it was sentimental tosh, for Salazar did not move the capital to Santa Maria de Loanda (as Luanda was then) and the revolutionaries decolonized like guilt-ridden (or, in Guinea, defeated) Europeans; but your story suggests it is now coming true. And why not?

I don't know if I can call it "to be politically correct" but do we really still need the terms: ex-colony, ex-slave master, ex-nazi, ex-apartheid, ex-communist, ex-capitalist...
The USA has been a British colony. I don't see the ex-colony a lot from the economist when talking about UK and USA relations. Is it because there has been a herculean reversal?
If it's India or Africa ex-colony is okay but if it's big brother it's not. I have a feeling that one day ex-colony will sound like many words that make people sound racist or supremacist.

Somehow I feel the piece on 'The Queensway syndicate and the Africa trade' should have been referenced in this article. Just my thoughts....

Someone said what goes around comes around, but the issue here should not be "old master or new master"...Westerners still want to put themeselves in a wrong side of human history...Western should engage with the rest of the world...with africans as well...and move toguether...this is the only world we have...for now...for example, western should be cleaning the streets of Africans cities as the chinese in Angola...sorry for be so hipocrit or cinic... westerners not the f governments, westerners citizens must step forward and engage the realities of this global world...and for the racists rebels in north africa killing inocents black africans... your day will come...I sougth AL CORAN was not R...nothing personal but someone said that what goes around comes around...

angola should use the oil money to make railroads to its hinterland. and make food for the chinese from its fertile land. puting money in the portugal backwater will bring no profit.

The economist got it wrong. There is a feeling in Portugal of regaining the control over the colonies, even though nobody will admit it. The control of Angolans in Portuguese companies is of very little influence at the moment. In the long term, it depends on the politacl stability of Angola, and Portugal´s capacity of remaining one of the big players in Angola, since Portugal wants to be Angola´s main trading partner because it needs to attract foreing investment more than ever.

Angolans know that their money has to go somewhere more stable if they want to keep it, therefore the investment in Portugal.

Everybody is happy, both are gaining, and at the moment both have power over each other, the revearse situation has not yet happen. If it ever will.

@ pedrolx2: I bet you have nightmares every time someone discusses the truth of history.

Just for the record....Angola is nothing like Nigeria.

Angola has one of if not the brightest future in Africa, it's developing fast and rapid progress is being made through out the country, as an Angolan it's great to see such process after 27 years of civil war, anyone who looks at pictures from the 60's and 70's will see that Angola was without doubt one of the most beautiful countries in Africa if not the world ;). HOWEVER 32 years in power is far too much! President Dos Santos has sucked the blood of the Angolan people through corruption like many leaders in Africa have and he needs to go.I mean where the hell is his daughter getting all this money considering his poor background?

Investment from whatever angle is welcome, however real benefit is one where the growth of an economic nature can be sustained. With the ever increasing cost of leaving translating into high cost of doing business, this potential may be eroded before the general population begins to enjoy the presence of their resource [oil].I hope the Government will be looking at naturing and sustaining this potential to wealth creation for the nation.