LUANDA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Angolan President Joao Lourenco inaugurated Tuesday the National Maritime Coordination and Surveillance Center in Luanda, the country's capital.

The president emphasized the center's strategic importance, as it will continuously monitor all activities within Angolan territorial waters.

This center, built at a cost of approximately 70 million U.S. dollars, will equip the Angolan Navy with modern tools to enhance their ability to safeguard the country's maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), spanning 200 nautical miles.

This center will also collaborate with other centers along the Angolan coast in Soyo, Lobito, and Namibe.

He highlighted that these surveillance centers will serve as the "eyes" of the Angolan Navy, providing crucial information on various vessels, including fishing vessels, incidents of illegal fishing, merchant navy ships, and others navigating national waters.

Angola has a maritime coastline stretching 1,650 kilometers from north to south along the Atlantic Ocean.

Meanwhile, Lourenco emphasized on Tuesday the ongoing modernization of the Armed Forces in Angola, with a particular focus on advancements within the Navy..

He said that following the opening of the Soyo base in the northern province of Zaire, the completion of the Lobito and Namibe bases in the country's central and southern regions is expected this year.

Additionally, he disclosed plans for constructing the country's largest central naval base while mentioning the ongoing renovation of the existing base and the forthcoming acquisition of three maritime reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. Enditem

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