The Angolan government is developing a programme to modernize its National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INAMET) in the bid to support the country’s economic and social development, and as part of its concerns to tackle the country’s weather and climate issues.

Angola’s Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technologies, José Carvalho da Rocha, made a statement regarding this on Wednesday at the opening of the 23rd Regional Forum for Seasonal Climate Forecasting for Southern Africa, which took place in Luanda from 28-30 August.

In his statement, the minister stated that the forum serves as an opportunity to “establish an integrated weather information base for the entire region and the world.”

Furthermore, he said the schedule of the event coincides with “the time when the country is experiencing drought, which makes it necessary to carry out studies to understand the phenomena and how decision makers can take the right action on the right limb.”

Reiterating the importance of the forum, African Union representative at the event, Jolly Wasambo, emphasised on the climate and weather information currently produced by experts from the region, which he said are needed to reach rural women, to help them improve crop yield and other agricultural activities.

The Southern Africa Regional Seasonal Climate Forecast Forum, holding for the first time in Angola, is undertaking a study of the Earth system to build resilience against recurring extreme weather events in the SADC region. The study is intended for presentation, discussion and dissemination.