NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ANGOLA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ANGOLA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins, the new Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations, today presented his credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Gaspar Martins served from 1996 as founding member and Co-President of the Angola-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  He held concurrently the position of Managing Director of Gaspar Martins and Associates International Business Consultants.  From 1996 to 2000, he also served on the Southern African Development Community Task Force at the World Economic Forum Summit.

Among other positions, from 1989 to 1995, Mr. Gaspar Martins was the Executive Director of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.  From 1982 to 1987 he served as Angola's Minister of External Trade, and from 1977 to 1982 he served as Minister of Finance.  From 1976 to 1977, Mr. Gaspar Martins was Governor of the Central Bank of Angola.  In 1975, he was external and economic affairs adviser to the President of Angola.

From 1972 to 1975, Mr. Gaspar Martins served with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), working as an economic affairs officer overseeing studies and policies on the issue of economic integration in Africa and on trade negotiations between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Union.  From 1971 to 1972, Mr. Gaspar Martins held the position of research officer on agricultural development policies in Africa for the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in Geneva. 

Mr. Gaspar Martins holds a Bachelor's degree in economics from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, United States.  In 1969, he completed post-graduate studies in economics at the University of Mannheim, Germany.  From 1969 to 1971, Mr. Gaspar Martins attended Oxford University, receiving a diploma in economic development.  

Born on 12 January 1940 in Luanda, Mr. Gaspar Martins is married with four children.

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