Angola's potential lies in its diamond mines and oil fields. Oil exploitation is risky business. Companies that established themselves during the cold war years monopolise operations. There are attempts to make the country investor friendly and attractive, but the on going civil war is a major deterrent. Poor and non-existent infrastructure makes doing business outside Luanda impossible.
Many people are weary of investing in Angola, despite government assurances.
Most of the economic sectors, with the exception of oil, diamond and fishing, are unstable. Angola is the second largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. The oil sector thrived over the years by escaping government nationalization and was shielded from the war because of the coastal location of most refineries. It is difficult to break into the oil sector. A handful of foreign companies control the oil industry.