PM wants Maputo Fair partnerships converted into investment

“ A fair ends, but business cannot end with the closure of the pavilions”, said Benvinda Levi, in the closing speech of Mozambique’s largest business event, held in Ricatla, Marracuene district, Maputo.

According to the governor, Facim 2026, which received for six days about 600 foreign companies and approximately 2,300 national exhibitors, as well as 55,000 visitors, demonstrated the national productive and business potential, arguing that the commitments made during the fair cannot remain only at the level of intentions.

“ We must now capitalise on the results achieved in this Facim. Contacts made here in Ricatla must materialise in contracts; contracts must become investments; investments must become factories, processing units, farms, services, technologies [and] infrastructure”, he said.

According to Levi, one of the main legacies of this year’s edition are the “intent statements and commitments to establish partnership and investment” achieved between companies, investors and participating institutions. The governor said that the implementation of these understandings could help boost economic growth and strengthen Mozambican exports, which, she said, exceeded 7.5 billion dollars (6.4 billion euros) in 2025.

By taking stock of the fair, which officially opened the doors on 31 August, the Prime Minister maintained that Facim was once again asserting itself as a privileged meeting space between national and foreign entrepreneurs, allowing “entrepreneurs who did not know each other before” to find potential buyers and investors to identify new business opportunities.

“Facim has become a true connection of our country with markets, technologies, experiences and investment opportunities from different parts of Mozambique and the world,” he said, also highlighting the diversity of exhibitors present, representing sectors such as agriculture, logistics, technology and financial services.

The head of the government also highlighted the strong presence of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, considering that the country’s main challenge “is not the absence of productive capacity”, but the increase in the production scale, productivity and integration of producers in the value chains.

“ We need to increase scale, improve productivity, ensure quality and regularity of supply to internal and external markets, and reduce costs, facilitate market access and better integrate small producers into value chains,” he said.

In her speech, the Prime Minister stressed the need to accelerate the industrialization of the economy and the local transformation of raw materials. “We cannot continue to rely excessively on the export of raw materials without processing.”.

The 61st Facim took place between August 31 and September 5, bringing together about 29 countries, including approximately 100 Portuguese capital companies. The event, held under the motto “Digital and Energy Transformation towards a Sustainable and Industrialized Economy”, had Brazil as a guest country of honor.