Mozambique : CDE assists development of partnership with Italy

The CDE in close collaboration with the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) is launching a programme called “Developing business opportunities in Mozambique”. This programme is intended to promote business partnerships between Mozambican and Italian companies.

To this end a multi-sectoral study was undertaken by Italian company Leonardo Business Consulting. The study identified business opportunities and potential local business partners in the following areas: agriculture, agro-industry, tourism, construction, timber, gemstones, marble, chemicals and utilities.

The study was presented to the Italian operators at two seminars held in Milan on 28 May and Rome on 9 June. Meetings were also held with Italian professional associations and companies.

An Italian mission lead by Adolfo Urso, Italian Vice-Minister for Economic Development, went to Mozambique in mid-July. The Italian delegation comprised about twenty business representatives in the fields of bio-fuel, agriculture, infrastructure and construction materials.

This mission was also an opportunity to present the new two-year programme started by the Italian Ministry for Economic Development called “Roadmap for Africa”. This aims at identifying business opportunities with local partners, promoting tourism and sourcing raw materials. It also provides for trade missions to selected Sub-Saharan African countries, to benefit from support for investment and partnership.

Promoting the private sector is a priority

Mozambique offers an economic environment which is considered favourable and likely to improve further in the medium term. GDP growth is estimated at 8.5% per year, which places it among the most dynamic economies on the continent. Private sector promotion is a priority for the Mozambican authorities and the country enjoys stability and excellent relations with the international community, which make it attractive for Italian operators.

It is worth recalling that Italy played a significant role in the peace agreements of 1992 and that Mozambique was selected for the first phase of the development of the Italian deployment strategy for Africa.

The Italian and Mozambican delegations first gathered for an institutional seminar in Maputo. This was attended by Antonio Fernando, Mozambican Minister for Industry and Trade, Rafik Jusob, Director of the Centre for Investment Promotion (CPI) and Salimo Abdula, President of the Mozambican Economic Associations Confederation (CTA).

The Italian operators met in addition with almost one hundred of their local counterparts during professional meetings. Visits were organized to various locations in Maputo province: municipalities, port and railway authorities, local companies’ plants in construction and public utilities. Other visits took place in Nampula Province and the port of Nacala, to see agricultural and agro-industrial sites.

Agreements worth about € 460 million were concluded with local business partners, in the agriculture, energy and tourism sectors.

CDE to provide technical assistance to eligible projects

Several Italian companies are already present in Mozambique, such as CMC Africa Austral (housing and construction), with thirty years of operations in the country, or PARMALAT (dairy industry) and ENI (energy).

Since the event, many other relevant Italian companies are entering the country. In the sugar industry, SFIR is operating in the Gaza region. In the energy sector, MONCADA operates in the region of Maputo. And six Italian companies are also working in the tourism industry. Other companies concluded business agreements in agriculture and agro-industry and a technical partnership in the precious stones sector.

The CDE will ensure the follow-up of partnerships between Italian and Mozambican companies and provide technical assistance to eligible projects.

The programme demonstrates the will of the Italian authorities to contribute to creating local value and technical skills through the transfer of Italian know-how, technology and investment.