Mitrelli begins development of new university campus in Angola

Mitrelli, an international company with over three decades of experience in delivering projects across Africa, is building a new campus for Katyavala Bwila University (KBU), one of the country’s leading public universities. KBU’s existing university buildings in the center of Benguela are in poor condition and, for the most part, are no longer usable. As a result, students are forced to use temporary premises provided by other organizations, where space is limited. For years, this has led to capacity issues and long waiting lists for students wishing to pursue a university degree.

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 phase of development was awarded to Mitrelli – Mitrelli Education Sector -  specializing in educational infrastructure and learning solutions. The project is being implemented by Mitrelli Netherlands, utilizing 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-scale projects in water, energy, education, healthcare and urbanization that improve lives and support long-term development. The Katyavala Bwila University project builds on this legacy, reinforcing the company's commitment to expanding access to quality education and developing the human capital that drives economic growth.

The project is financed by Deutsche Bank, with political and commercial risks insured by the 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, emphasizes the importance of the initiative:
“We are proud to be supporting this groundbreaking project for the Republic of Angola, together with Atradius DSB and Mitrelli Group Swiss AG. 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 marks an important step towards improving access to higher education in Angola. It is expected to provide future generations of students with greater opportunities to develop their potential and contribute to the country’s economic growth.