The Government has announced the availability of $2 million to finance micro and small enterprises in the provinces of Niassa and Cabo Delgado, as part of the 7th edition of the Catalytic Fund for Innovation and Demonstration (FCID).
According to a statement, the announcement was made this Friday (20) in Lichinga by the Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá, during the launch ceremony of the Co-Financed Grant Line of Conecta Negócios.
According to the minister, this is a territorially targeted intervention designed to strengthen business capitalization and stimulate local economies. “We are making $2 million available to the private sector in these two provinces to support business initiatives with real capacity to generate employment, income, and dynamism in local economies,” he said.
The funding takes the form of a co-financed grant, with the Fund covering up to 90% of eligible investment, while companies must provide at least 10% of their own capital. For the minister, this model reinforces corporate responsibility and avoids an assistance-based approach. “We are not going to distribute or give away money. We are going to invest strategically in the productive future of Niassa and Cabo Delgado,” he stressed.
Microenterprises may benefit from support ranging between $15,000 and $25,000, while small enterprises will have access to amounts between $15,000 and $50,000. The financing line is aimed at sectors with high employment-generation capacity and strong links to local economies, namely agribusiness, sustainable tourism, food and fisheries production, beekeeping, mechanical and auto-electric services, carpentry, construction yards, transport, sewing workshops, and small local businesses.
“We are not going to distribute or give away money. We are going to invest strategically in the productive future of Niassa and Cabo Delgado,” Salim Valá – Minister of Planning and Development
According to the minister, the Catalytic Fund is not only a financial mechanism but also an economic policy instrument aligned with the National Development Strategy 2025–44 and the Government’s Five-Year Program 2025–29. “Without a strong business base, there is no structural transformation of our economy,” he said.
The minister also highlighted that Niassa and Cabo Delgado face specific challenges, including low formal business density and limited access to bank credit, but have significant productive potential, particularly in agriculture, forestry resources, minerals, and tourism.
“In territories with lower business density, productive investment tends to have a higher multiplier effect by activating local value chains, generating direct and indirect employment, increasing household income, and promoting economic formalization,” he noted.
Applications will be submitted digitally, and projects will be subject to technical evaluation and continuous monitoring. “Public money requires accountability. Trust is built with results,” the minister emphasized.
The Catalytic Fund is part of a broader set of financial instruments being implemented by the Executive, including the Local Economic Development Fund, the Mutual Guarantee Fund, the Economic Recovery Fund, and the process of establishing the Development Bank.
Closing the ceremony, the minister urged entrepreneurs to submit solid and sustainable projects. “The State trusts you. It is up to you to demonstrate that this trust generates results. Transform every metical invested into employment, productivity, and an example for the entire country,” he concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
