LUANDA, July 31 -- A provincial official of Angola said that the country expects more Chinese investment to boost agricultural sector as it can hardly produce sufficient food for its local population.

Felicino Mulova, who is the secretary general of the Huambo provincial government, formerly a major transport and agricultural hub in central Angola, made the remarks while meeting with a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs operating in Angola led by Liu Yiyong, chairman of the chamber of commerce of China's Zhe Jiang province.

Official statistics show that Angola's population of 23 million needs 4 million tons of grains annually, but only 1.5 million tons is produced across the country.

Mulova noted that investment in the agricultural sector would be in line with the Angolan government policy of prioritizing the development of the sector to diversify the country's oil-dependent economy.

"We hope Chinese entrepreneurs will introduce quality seeds as well as modern farming and management skills in the province," the official said, adding that "Huambo would offer the best possible incentives to foreign investments in terms of land lease, taxation and preferential policies."

Mulova acknowledged the shortage of skilled manpower in the agricultural sector, just like in other economic sectors in Angola, and appealed to Chinese entrepreneurs from Zhejiang province where Liu heads the Chamber of Commerce, to set up an agricultural training center in Huambo.

He said the provincial government would set aside 50 hectares of land for the establishment of the agricultural training center.

Speaking during the same function, Liu said Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce would bring agricultural experts who would help set up the training center and introduce modern farming technologies in Huambo.

Besides agriculture, Mulova said, Huambo province welcomed foreign investments in manufacturing and health sectors.