Mozambique and South Africa have agreed to deepen bilateral economic cooperation, with a focus on attracting investment, accelerating industrialisation, expanding trade, and building value chains with greater participation from domestic enterprises.
The commitment was reaffirmed during the Bilateral Economic Consultation Meeting held in Maputo on the sidelines of the 61st edition of the Feira Internacional de Maputo (FACIM).
The meeting was led by Secretary of State for Commerce António Grispos and centred on the need to transform the economic relationship between the two countries into a partnership more firmly oriented towards productive investment, local processing of raw materials, and job creation.
Mozambique is seeking to ensure that cooperation with South Africa moves beyond trade flows and contributes to expanding domestic production capacity, developing national industry, and integrating Mozambican enterprises into regional value chains.
Among the principal issues discussed was the situation of MOZAL, one of Mozambique's largest industrial facilities and a flagship project in the economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting also examined measures aimed at facilitating trade, improving the business environment, and creating conditions for new investment inflows.
Special Economic Zones featured prominently in the discussions, with participants identifying them as important instruments for attracting industrial projects, stimulating local production, and supporting the expansion of business activity. Tourism was also addressed, with both sides exploring new areas of cooperation and opportunities to better leverage the potential of their respective markets.
The two sides further discussed the operationalisation of the Joint Committee on Trade and Investment, a mechanism established to oversee the bilateral economic agenda and facilitate the resolution of constraints affecting businesses and investors. It is expected that strengthening this instrument will accelerate the implementation of commitments made by both countries, support the monitoring of investment projects, and improve conditions for the growth of commercial relations.
The economic rapprochement between Maputo and Pretoria comes at a time when Mozambique is seeking to increase domestic production, reduce import dependence, and position industry as one of the primary drivers of economic growth. South Africa, for its part, remains one of Mozambique's principal economic partners, with a significant presence of South African companies across multiple sectors of the national economy.
The deepening of cooperation is thus expected to translate the economic proximity between the two countries into greater investment, production, employment, and regional integration.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/06/negocios/facim-2026-mocambique-e-africa-do-sul-reforcam-cooperacao-para-acelerar-industrializacao/
