The Secretary of State in Niassa province, Lina Portugal, encouraged investors to establish tourist resorts in the Lago district, with the aim of fostering youth employment and boosting economic growth in that region, the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM) reported.
Speaking at a rally held in the town of Messumba, administrative post of Lunho, in the Lago district, Portugal emphasised the need to develop the tourism sector and implement industrial fishing. He also called for the creation of a development bank to finance activities linked to tourism and other local economic areas.
‘We have to continue to set up schools, especially technical-vocational schools, so that our young people have jobs. With regard to tourism, our province, especially here in Lago, is rich in tourism, so we want to invite investors to open more resorts that will provide jobs for our young people,’ said the Secretary of State.
Portugal also emphasised the importance of continuing to invest in the fisheries sector, with a focus on supporting local fishermen. ‘We need to continue to invest in our fishermen, to improve the catching and processing of this fish, so that it has more quality,’ she added.
The development bank proposed by Portugal should finance various economic initiatives, with an emphasis on the fishing sector. In addition, local advisory councils will be responsible for analysing and deciding on the district’s development projects.
She also assured that one of the government’s promises, the construction of a cement factory, will be realised this year, allowing for the local production of this material. ‘Later this year, we’ll have cement coming out of Niassa for the first time, because the cement factory will start operating this year,’ she guaranteed.
Lina Portugal’s statements were made as part of the electoral campaign ahead of the general and provincial elections, scheduled for 9 October.
