Angola's mining sector grew 11.8 percent from 2008 to 2011, reports Angop, citing the Secretary of State for Industry, Kiala Ngone Gabriel, who recently spoke in Luanda at an opening ceremony to celebrate the Angolan mining sector workers' day, to be marked on April 27.

According to secretary of state, the greatest contribution to the country's sector growth came from the sub-sector of construction material while industrial exploration contributed 3 percent, the formal diamond sector contributed 2.5 percent, and artisanal diamond exploration contributed 2 percent to overall growth.

In an effort to contribute to the growth of the national economy, Secretary of State Gabriel also mentioned that a Geology and Mining National Plan is currently being drafted whose aim is to enhance the knowledge of and the ability to take better advantage of the country's resources, reports the news source.

He also reportedly commended the country's Mining Code, approved in 2011, which has contributed to the growing transparency of the rights and duties of the mining sector's workers, as well as the respective responsibilities towards the communities where the resources are extracted.