Angola has been the largest recipient in Africa of Chinese loans; receiving more than US$12 billion since 2000, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported last week.

Citing a survey by the research unit of China Aid, a U.S.-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the report said Angola’s transport and storage sector had been the biggest beneficiary, absorbing approximately 20 percent of the Chinese loans to that country over the period. The Angolan energy sector came next with an 18 percent share of the Chinese loans to that nation.

Mozambique was placed 11th on the NGO’s list of African nations receiving Chinese loans; with approximately US$5.8 billion received since 2000, the report said. Mozambique’s transport and storage sector was the biggest single beneficiary in that country, absorbing approximately 45 percent of the Chinese credits issued to that nation. Mozambique’s banking and financial services came next with 36 percent of the Chinese loans issued to the country.