Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves De Sousa

February 3, 2023 Nigerian CEO Leading Ceos, Public Sector Ceos, Top Women CEOs Comments Off on Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves De Sousa

– Minister of Finance, Angola

Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves De Sousa (born 1984) is an Angolan economist and politician who has served as Minister of Finance of Angola since October 2019. At age 35, she became the first woman to hold the position, tasked with restructuring the economy of Africa’s fifth-largest oil producer.

Early Life & Education

  • Born in Luanda, Angola.

  • Holds a degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Angola.

Career Journey

  • 2011 – Head of Research at a local bank; gained visibility as a regular TV commentator on finance and economics.

  • 2014–2016 – Executive Administrator, Capital Markets Commission.

  • 2016 – Appointed Head of the Capital Markets Commission, succeeding Archer Mangueira.

  • Co-author – Published a book on public finance with economist Alves da Rocha.

  • Secretary of State for Finance & Treasury – Served prior to her ministerial appointment.

  • Minister of Finance (2019–Present) – Appointed by President João Lourenço, succeeding Mangueira.

    • Joined the Political Bureau of the MPLA shortly before her appointment.

    • Known as a “disciplined, well-prepared, and competent technician.”

    • Oversaw Angola’s economic restructuring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • Announced recession in March 2020 and revised the General State Budget.

    • Suspended unfunded contracts in April 2020 due to oil price collapse and fiscal pressures.

International Roles

  • African Development Bank (AfDB) – Ex-Officio Member, Board of Governors (since 2019).

  • International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Ex-Officio Member, Board of Governors (since 2019).

  • World Bank – Ex-Officio Member, Board of Governors (since 2019).

Key Legacy

Vera Daves De Sousa is recognized as a trailblazer in Angolan politics and finance, breaking barriers as the country’s first female finance minister. Her leadership has been marked by economic reform, fiscal discipline, and crisis management, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and oil market downturn. She continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Angola’s financial stability and international economic engagement.

 

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