Mitrelli begins development of a new university campus in Angola
Access to higher education in the Angolan province of Benguela is set to receive a significant boost in the coming years. Mitrelli, an international company with more than three decades’ experience in delivering projects across Africa, is building a new campus for Katyavala Bwila University (KBU), one of the country’s leading public universities.
The existing KBU university buildings in the centre of Benguela are in poor condition and are largely no longer usable. As a result, students are forced to make use of temporary accommodation provided by other organisations, where space is limited. For years, this has led to capacity issues and long waiting lists for students wishing to pursue a university degree.
“Reaching financial close required close coordination across all stakeholders, ensuring that every condition was met in alignment and within demanding timelines. This achievement reflects the commitment and professionalism of everyone involved.”
Yoav Brick, Director of Structured Finance at Mitrelli
To meet the growing demand for higher education, the Angolan government has decided to invest in a new university campus. The project is intended not only to increase educational capacity but also to contribute to the economic development of Benguela province.
The contract for the first development phase was awarded to Mitrelli – Mitrelli Education Sector –, specialising in educational infrastructure and learning solutions. The project is being implemented by Mitrelli Netherlands, utilising Dutch expertise in areas including the fit-out and kitting out of the buildings.
The first phase involves the design, construction and supply of equipment for four educational buildings:
• Faculty of Law, Benguela
• Faculty of Economics, Benguela
• Faculty of Medicine, Benguela
• Higher Institute of Educational Sciences (ISCED)
The design and construction phase is expected to take approximately five years. The full development of the campus will take place in phases and, in the long term, will grow into a large-scale educational complex.
With more than three decades of experience across Africa, Mitrelli has delivered more than 100 national projects in the fields of water, energy, education, healthcare and urbanisation, which improve quality of life and support long-term development. The Katyavala Bwila University project builds on this tradition and reinforces the company’s commitment to increasing access to high-quality education and developing the human capital that drives economic growth.
The project is financed by Deutsche Bank, with the political and commercial risks insured by Atradius Dutch State Business (Atradius DSB). This export credit agency (ECA) backing enabled Deutsche Bank to provide long-term financing on attractive terms for the project.
Moritz Dörnemann, Global Head of Structured Trade and Export Finance at Deutsche Bank, emphasises the importance of the initiative:
“We are proud to be supporting this groundbreakingproject for the Republic of Angola, together with Atradius DSB and the Mitrelli Group. It increases access to high-quality higher education in Angola. Expanding educational opportunities is fundamental to long-term sustainable growth, and this financing underlines our commitment to projects with a meaningful social impact.”
The new campus represents a significant step towards improving access to higher education in Angola. It is expected to provide future generations of students with more opportunities to develop their potential and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Danny van Iersel – Export Credit Specialist
Monique Duns - Marketing & Events Officer