The province of Zambézia, located in central Mozambique, hosted the pre-investment conference known as ZAMVISÃO on Tuesday, July 1st. The initiative aims to mobilize investment to boost the rice value chain — a sector considered strategic for local development — according to the newspaper O País.
The choice of Zambézia as the venue for this event stems from the fact that the province still lacks a major structured project geared toward development. Through ZAMVISÃO, the goal is to change this reality, as highlighted by Pieter Letitre, a consultant for the program.
“It is extremely important to have a structured project,” said Letitre, presenting what he called the “ingredients for a successful plan and vision.”
According to the consultant, the fundamental pillars for the success of any project include having a clear plan, adequate funding for implementation, and above all, leadership.
“Perhaps the most important thing is to have a champion — a leader or leaders — capable of building trust among investors, financial institutions, and other stakeholders, ensuring that everyone moves in the same direction,” he explained.
The governor of Zambézia Province, Pio Matos, and the Mayor of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, as hosts of the pre-conference, expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential impact on the region’s socioeconomic development.
According to Governor Pio Matos, ZAMVISÃO could mark a turning point for agribusiness in the province:
“It is the Government’s commitment, through this initiative, to attract investors to our province, thereby boosting agricultural production and revitalizing the large processing plants that already exist here,” he said.
Manuel de Araújo, for his part, recalled that Zambézia had seen strategic development plans in the past that were never implemented:
“I remember participating in an investor conference in the city of Mocuba. It was a few intense days of discussion and hope,” he observed.
The Mayor of Quelimane also pointed out that key anchor projects have already been identified, such as the Port of Macuse and the Mugeba Dam, among others:
“I could list several. What truly matters is that five or ten years from now, we’re not sitting here — or in another room — discussing the exact same problems and challenges all over again,” he warned.
Source: DE
