The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stated this Tuesday, December 2, at the Mozambique Fashion Forum, that the country “possesses cultural reserves as deep as its energy resources.” Michael Croft, UNESCO representative in Mozambique, argued that culture must be placed at the center of development policies.
Croft explained that, after 26 years at UNESCO, he still faces the same challenge: convincing decision-makers of the importance of culture. “People ask: why should we talk about culture? Who cares about culture?” he said during the debate on the theme “Global Partnerships, Funding, and Public Policies,” emphasizing that the topic is still underestimated despite the expected advances in the Post-2030 Agenda, which should recognize culture as an autonomous goal of international development.
The UNESCO representative highlighted that culture is “a human right” and constitutes “a public good,” deserving the same seriousness as education or health. To transform this principle into concrete action, he highlighted the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which includes around 400 cities but few African representations. “Maputo already has all the pieces of the puzzle,” he stated.
Michael Croft also noted that UNESCO aims for Mozambique to become the first African country with a national network of six creative cities, spanning from north to south. This strategy would allow culture to become an economic asset, capable of attracting investment and strengthening public policies. For him, this network would position Mozambique as “a shining star in Africa.” He assured that there is institutional willingness to support this vision.
Meanwhile, Ricardo Coelho, national director of Pedersen & Partners Consulting Firm (PKF) Mozambique, stated that the country has “huge talent and fragile structures,” with access to opportunities being the main obstacle. He emphasized the need for competitive financing, technology, and training to support entrepreneurs. “Without trust, there is no investment,” he said, calling for greater alignment between the State and the private sector. For him, fashion could become a structuring industry. Coelho highlighted that global partnerships can act as the “invisible fabric” linking Mozambican fashion to the world, bringing standards, networks, and best practices. He also noted that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) represent 90% to 95% of the national business fabric but lack technical capacity. It is essential to make them “investor ready,” he argued. The PKF national director added that modernizing the business environment requires adequate financing, simplified policies, tax incentives, and technical training. According to Coelho, Mozambique has the capacity to modernize the cotton value chain and create international certifications, emphasizing the importance of integrating artisans and rural women into structured projects.
For his part, Antonio Franceschini, Secretary-General of CNA Fedemoda, stated that the federation represents around 25,000 SMEs in the textile, clothing, footwear, and accessories sectors. He stressed that the current global economic and political context demands strengthened international cooperation. “Projects must be sustainable and long-term,” Franceschini declared, highlighting that the federation works through private agreements and international partnerships in countries such as Peru and Mongolia.
At the closing of the session, Antonio Franceschini emphasized that sustainability, cooperation, and support for small businesses should guide the development vision. “Business and public policies must move together,” he said, advocating for solid and strategic projects. For him, only well-structured initiatives ensure competitiveness and growth in the international market.
The event concluded with the signing of a memorandum between Mozambique Fashion Week and CNA Fedemoda, aiming to establish a partnership for capacity-building, internationalization, and promotion of Mozambican fashion through exchanges, training, and support for local designers.
Text: Florença Nhabinde
