As Angola marks 50 years of independence, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço has awarded Haim Taib, Founder and President of the Menomadin and Mitrelli Group, the Peace and Development Medal (Classe Paz e Desenvolvimento) in recognition of his long-standing partnership and contributions to Angola’s economic and social development.
Haim Taib, a businessman, investor, and philanthropist, has spent over 35 years in Africa leading more than 100 national-scale projects that have mobilized investments, created jobs, and improved lives across the continent.
Arriving in Angola in 1991 during the civil war, Taib saw the country’s potential and worked to transform peace into progress. One of his early initiatives, Aldeia Nova, focused on self-sustaining communities and food production, becoming a symbol of hope and post-war recovery.
Over the years, Taib expanded his impact through his ecosystem of companies, including Mitrelli, Luminar, Menomadin, and JETA, implementing projects in water, food security, energy, housing, education, healthcare, and technology. Notable initiatives include water provision programs, advanced hospitals, vocational and entrepreneur centers, telecommunication infrastructure, and science and innovation hubs — all aimed at inclusive growth and human development.
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In 2025, Taib co-founded the Lobito Corridor Impact Development (LCID) Platform alongside Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. This USD 1 billion private-sector-led initiative, with USD 100 million already committed, supports infrastructure, trade, agriculture, and education across Angola, the DRC, and Zambia.
Taib’s social impact vision also extends through the Fundação Arte e Cultura, empowering young Angolans through art, education, and culture. His initiatives have brought electricity, water, homes, hospitals, and employment to millions, leaving a lasting legacy in the country.
“This recognition belongs as much to the people of Angola as it does to me,” said Taib. “It is a tribute to our shared belief that when people can dream, they can create. They can change. They can build their future with their own hands.”
The Classe Paz e Desenvolvimento medal underscores Angola’s acknowledgment of Haim Taib’s three decades of partnership and enduring contributions to the nation’s peace and development.
