More than 100 Portuguese-owned companies are expected to participate in the Maputo International Trade Fair (FACIM) 2026, which opens on Monday (31 August), reinforcing Portugal's commercial presence in one of Africa's key markets where approximately 500 Portuguese companies are already active.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Portuguese Embassy in Maputo, Portugal's participation in the 61st edition of FACIM will be led by Secretary of State for Economy João Rui Ferreira, who visits Maputo from 31 August to 2 September, alongside Madalena Oliveira e Silva, president of the Portuguese Agency for Investment and External Trade (AICEP).
The Portuguese presence takes place against a backdrop of what the embassy describes as "strong dynamism and the deepening of business cooperation between the two countries", at a time when Portuguese companies remain active in sectors considered strategic to the Mozambican economy, including energy, agriculture, infrastructure, engineering, tourism, and digital transformation.
Of the more than 100 Portuguese companies expected at this year's FACIM, around twenty will occupy dedicated exhibition stands, seeking to promote products, services, and investment opportunities to Mozambican and international partners. Portugal's institutional participation will be coordinated by AICEP through a dedicated space designed as a platform for business engagement and networking.
"Portugal's institutional stand aims to function not merely as a representational space, but above all as a hub and meeting point for Portuguese companies active in the market, facilitating contacts with potential partners, investors, and Mozambican public and private entities," the Portuguese Embassy stated.
During his visit, João Rui Ferreira will participate in the Portugal-Mozambique Business Forum 2026, held under the theme "Competitiveness, Local Content and New Investment Opportunities", scheduled for 1 September at Camões – Centro Cultural Português in Maputo. The programme also includes institutional meetings, sessions with business leaders, and visits to Portuguese companies operating in the Mozambican market.
Also expected on the opening day of FACIM are José Luís Carneiro, secretary-general of Portugal's Socialist Party (PS), and Eurico Brilhante Dias, leader of the socialist parliamentary group. The two form part of a party delegation visiting Maputo to strengthen institutional relations and identify cooperation opportunities, according to a PS source.
Portugal is Mozambique's seventh-largest supplier, with more than 1,100 active Portuguese exporting companies engaged with this market. Bilateral trade in goods surpassed €193 million in 2025. There are currently more than 40,000 Portuguese citizens registered in the consular network in Mozambique, and nearly 500 Portuguese-owned companies operating in the country, according to official data.
FACIM opens on Monday at the Ricatla International Exhibition and Trade Centre in Marracuene district and runs until 5 September. The fair is regarded as the country's largest business event. According to the Investment and Exports Promotion Agency (APIEX), organisers expect the participation of 30 countries, with around 600 foreign companies, in addition to approximately 2,150 Mozambican exhibitors and representatives from all provinces.
Several business forums and thematic seminars are also scheduled to promote partnerships and business opportunities, including the Mozambique-China, Mozambique-Brazil, and Mozambique-UAE forums.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=535135
