[surtitre : Aviation :] Covid tests, an unexpected windfall for Israeli-Swiss group Mitrelli, China's BGI and Nigeria's Peters family

摘要

In recent months, a new breed of visitors have been crowding into the highly chic, privately owned Luanda Medical Center (LMC). They are the air travellers who are obliged by government directive to present the negative results of a Covid-19 RT-PCR (nasal swab) test carried out less than 72 hours before they board any international flight. The ultra-modern LMC medical complex is situated in the heart of the Ingombota district, which is the main seat of Angolan business and government. Run by Israeli-Swiss group Mitrelli, it also receives passengers from abroad who need to go into quarantine when they arrive. They can leave after seven days if they are able to show negative test results. In both cases, the test costs Kz185,500, which is to say $280. It is a profitable business for Mitrelli, which is one of the groups benefiting from the Covid testing windfall in Africa. The group, which counts Angola as one of its strongholds, was founded in 2011 by businessman Haim Taib, who has led it to prosperity in the African health sector, livestock breeding, market gardening and infrastructure (Africa Intelligence, 08/07/20).