The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (APME), the National Employment Institute (INEP) and Global Business Network Africa (GBNA) signed a memorandum of understanding in Maputo on Thursday, 23 July, aimed at strengthening the promotion of employment, entrepreneurship and the integration of young people into the labour market.
The agreement, formalised during the inaugural edition of the Youth Investment Summit 2026, provides for cooperation among the three institutions on information sharing, the dissemination of job opportunities, and the connection between qualified young professionals and the private sector.
In an interview with Diário Económico, APME president Pedro Silva said one of the initiative’s primary objectives is to reduce the difficulties young people face in accessing information, which continues to limit their entry into the labour market and their ability to take advantage of available opportunities.
“One of the major problems that exists is the dissemination of opportunities. With this partnership we will be able to achieve wider visibility of opportunities and of the qualified workforce that exists to meet the needs of businesses,” Silva said.
According to Pedro Silva, the memorandum will enable closer coordination with INEP, facilitating business access to the CVs of qualified young people and promoting their integration into value chains.
The APME president expressed confidence that the partnership would produce results in the short term, helping currently unemployed professionals to enter the labour market.
Commenting on the inaugural edition of the Youth Investment Summit, he said the success of the initiative would depend on its ability to generate results that outlast the event itself, transforming the gathering into a permanent platform of opportunities for young people.
“The success of this event will depend on the results we achieve in the future. Today we cannot make that assessment, but we want this initiative to have continuity,” he said.
At the same occasion, Minister of Youth and Sport Caifadine Manasse argued that the private sector must take a more active role in creating opportunities for young people through investment in vocational training, entrepreneurship and access to financing. According to the minister, Mozambican youth possess the talent and capacity to drive economic growth, but continue to face constraints related to capital, mentorship and market access.
The minister also stated that the memorandum represents an important step towards bringing the state, the private sector and development partners together to implement concrete solutions for youth employment. “We do not want this summit to end only in applause. We want it to end in contracts, signed partnerships and funded young people,” he declared.
Source: Diário Económico
