The Executive has authorised, this Tuesday, 9 June, the launch of an international public tender for the installation of a motor vehicle assembly plant in the country. The initiative will be implemented through a public-private partnership and aims to reduce import costs and improve road transport.
According to the government spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, Ussene Isse, the Executive authorised the Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, to launch the tender to “select a private partner” responsible for implementing the vehicle assembly industrial unit in Mozambique.
According to the official, the creation of the factory responds to the high costs of purchasing buses, difficulties in designing vehicles adapted to the country’s conditions, and the need for greater flexibility in renewing the national fleet.
In addition to addressing these challenges, the initiative aims to improve urban and rural road transport. The government also expects to strengthen private sector participation in the development of an integrated transport system in Mozambique.
The future industrial unit is also expected to boost mobility and industrialisation, contributing to import substitution. At the same time, it is seen as a tool to stimulate the national economy, create jobs and promote technology transfer. “It also aims to promote the use of clean and sustainable energy for transport, such as gas and electricity, in line with the energy transition strategy. This will reduce costs by around 40%, with gains in maintenance, enabling a faster and more effective response to transport solutions in our country,” added Ussene Isse.
The intention to establish a vehicle assembly plant in Mozambique is not new. In March, the government announced that the Chinese company SG Automotive Group Co, a car manufacturer, was studying the installation of a vehicle assembly unit, including electric buses, with potential to generate 3,000 jobs.
At the time, the Ministry of Economy said the company was in Mozambique on a ten-day mission to assess the national market and had expressed interest in investing in the country. During this process, SG Automotive Group Co officials met with the Minister of Economy, Basílio Muhate.
As a result of those discussions, the Moamba Industrial Park in Maputo Province emerged as a possible location for the industrial unit. “The Minister of Economy highlighted that the company’s interest is aligned with the government’s vision of promoting industrialisation and attracting foreign investment, with direct impact on the economy and job creation,” the statement said.
Source: Diário Económico
