LUANDA, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Angola have recently signed a cooperation protocol aimed at empowering women economically.

The agreement, which was signed in Luanda between the FAO and Angola's Ministry of Social Action, Family and Women Promotion on Monday, will help women in rural and periphery-urban zones with their economic and productive capacities.

The protocol has a budget of 150,000 U.S. dollars, and will initially be implemented in the capital Luanda and later in four other provinces in the southern region of the country.

FAO representative in Angola, Gherda Barreto, said that the agreement will also help train women in agribusiness, improve their skills and strengthen the microfinance and rural credit services.

Angolan Minister for Social Action, Family and Women Promotion Faustina Alves said it is important to empower women's economic capacity, so as to reduce poverty rate in Angola. Enditem