The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Silvino Moreno, said last week during the 18th Annual Private Sector Conference (CASP), that the current context of the national manufacturing industry still offers countless challenges and opportunities, especially at this time, when Mozambique has just joined the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to the governor, there is a need for the country to start opting for production diversification, as well as to replace imports by exports, in order to improve the trade balance.
“We need to evolve in order to overcome the existing constraints. We must improve the levels of employment and social welfare of citizens and, for that, it is fundamental that there is transformation, innovation and sustainability of industry, to allow the Mozambican economy to grow,” he said.
Silvino Moreno stressed that the Government is committed to intensify the reformist dynamics. “Given the importance of improving the business environment, we are working on the renewal of some action plans in order to attract more investment. We are also committed to implementing the National Industrialise Mozambique Programme, through which we have already signed agreements for the implementation of investment projects, particularly the construction and operation of an industrial park, construction of a sea port for the export of manufactured goods, amongst others,” he said.
The minister gave assurances that, in the medium term, more potential projects for expansion of industrialisation infrastructures would be identified.
“We have renewed our commitment to continue creating conditions to maintain dialogue with the private sector, in the operationalisation of the national industrialisation agenda, with a focus on the development of micro, small and medium industries,” he concluded.
Organised by the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), over a period of three days (21, 22 and 23 June), CASP took place in Maputo under the theme, “Transformation, Innovation and Sustainability for Industrial Competitiveness,” and was attended by over 3,000 physical participants and 12,000 virtual ones. During the conference, projects from various sectors valued at around US$1.4 billion were discussed.
