Minister Mario Joao holds a master’s degree in agrarian Economics from the Prague Agriculture University, and a PhD on African Studies from the Carlos University of Prague, both in Czeck Republic.
Prior to his appointment as Minister of Economy of Planning, he was the Secretary of State for Economy.
Before his appointment as a member of the Angolan government, from 2016 to 2019, Minister Mario Joao was an Advisor of the Executive Director of the 25th Constituency at the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. His other previous work experience included Executive Director of the Angola Debt and Equity Stock Market, head of the Department for Macroeconomic Policy and Management at the ministry of finance and trade expert at the Southern African Development Community Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment Directorate based in Gaborone, Botswana.