Paper long abstract:

This communication describes the parallel market of foreign currency in Luanda.

The paper is structured as following:

1) introduction note - this topic includes an approach to the extension of this activity based on the information available and a explaining of the methodological procedures adopted;

2) brief description of the history and evolution of this activity, in comparison with the official exchange market in Angola;

3) identification of its determinant factors;

4) characterization of its structural elements, its internal logic and its regulation procedures;

5) identification of the main articulations with the official exchange system;

6) conclusion - the most significant aspects related with the different dimensions analysed are highlight.

The information reported is the result of the combination of several sources:

a) a bibliography revue in the area of parallel market of foreign currency in Angola, as well as in some other sub-saharan African countries;

b) a press dossier, based on the daily newspaper "Jornal de Angola" and the weekly newspapers "Angolense" and "Folha 8";

c) nine (9) interviews with experts and institutional members directly involved in this activity (National Bank of Angola, exchange facilities, and so on);

d) twelve (12) semi-structured interviews collected in the field from September to December 2003 and in July-August 2004 to doleiros based in Asa Branca and Roque Santeiro markets and to kinguilas who perform this activity in some of the main streets of Luanda.