Between energy and agriculture: Mozambique wants Abu Dhabi investment

O Mozambican President Daniel Chapo today invited Abu Dhabi entrepreneurs to invest in strategic sectors of the country, pointing out the potential of gas, energy, agriculture, tourism and logistics to boost economic growth.

“ All neighbouring countries are short of electricity and we have the assets to make gas power plants, hydroelectric power plants and what we need is investment,” said Mozambican Head of State during a meeting with Abu Dhabi’s business community in the framework of his work visit to the United Arab Emirates.

According to Daniel Chapo, Mozambique is able to assert itself as one of the main investment destinations in the region of Southern Africa, highlighting the strategic location, the three logistic corridors of Maputo, Beira and Nacala and the availability of natural resources.

It also highlighted the numerous hectares of arable land, world-class natural gas reserves, strategic mineral resources and high potential for renewable energy production.

The President pointed out the energy sector as one of the main business opportunities for emirate investors, highlighting the liquefied natural gas projects Coral Sul FLNG and Coral Norte FLNG, in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin, off Cape Delgado province, as well as the Mozambique LNG projects, led by TotalEnergies, in Afungi, Palma district, and Rovuma LNG, also planned for Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin, in the north of the country.

“ We are talking about investments of around 50 to 60 billion dollars [45.3 to 54.4 million euros] over the next five to 10 years,” he said, adding that the country is able to significantly increase energy production for the internal market and export to neighbouring countries.

Chapo also stressed that the government intends to transform good political relations between Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates into concrete economic partnerships.

“Mozambique intends to deepen economic and trade relations between our two countries (...) and transform the political and diplomatic trust that we have as two countries in concrete investments and shared benefits,” he explained.

In addition to energy, the head of state identified agriculture and agroprocessing as priority sectors, advancing that the country intends to develop fertilizer production projects to support national and regional agricultural production.

In tourism, he highlighted the approximately 2,700 kilometers of Mozambican coast, islands and conservation areas, arguing that the country has the conditions to attract investments in hotels, resorts and tourist infrastructure.

“ Our main priority is to build a diversified, productive, industrialized and competitive economy, especially to generate income for families and employment for youth,” he said.

The President also highlighted ongoing reforms to improve the business environment, including digitisation of services and strengthening public-private partnerships, concessions and other investment models.

At the end of the intervention, Chapo invited Abu Dhabi’s entrepreneurs to participate in an international investment conference scheduled for December 9th and 10th in Mozambique, where business opportunities and possible partnership agreements between the two countries will be presented.