The manager of the Entrepreneur Support Office (GAE) of the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), Elias Mondlane, highlighted the progress made in training young people and local companies, promoting business structuring and implementing quality management systems, during the implementation of the first phase of the +Employment for Young People in Cabo Delgado project .
Mondlane, who was speaking at the final conference of the first phase of the +Emprego project, co-funded by the European Union and co-managed by Camões IP, which took place on Monday 2 December in Maputo, highlighted the importance of the partnership between CTA’s National Business Certification Programme (Pronacer) and the +Emprego project, stressing that ‘the initiative aims to support local businesses in understanding and implementing the certification process.’
‘CTA finances the certification of companies and they must demonstrate that they enter into the process and finalise it with certification,’ he said, adding that “this approach seeks to empower and ensure that the benefited companies are able to compete in more demanding markets, including the oil and gas industry,” which presents many opportunities in the region.
During the project, Pronacer identified 15 beneficiary companies, eight of which underwent internal audits. The diagnosis made by CTA revealed an advantage that it considered significant: ‘Many companies were already implementing quality management practices, even without formal certification. This recognition was fundamental in structuring the companies, making them eligible for future contracts.’
The training offered by the private sector reinforces the commitment to sustainable development by preparing companies to implement quality management systems and thus strengthen their operations.
Elias Mondlane pointed out that ‘this opportunity allows local companies to reach international standards, increasing their competitiveness and contributing to the economic growth of Cabo Delgado province.’
He concluded by saying that +Emprego 2.2 – a guaranteed second phase, budgeted at 601.4 million meticals (nine million euros) – ‘will bring even more opportunities to certify.’
Text: Germano Ndlovo ● Photo: Mariano Silva
