The Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá, launched on Thursday, April 2, at the campus of the Pedagogical University (UP), the book “Rethinking Economic Development and the Role of the State: Dilemmas, Challenges and Trends,” arguing that “without institutional capacity, any development strategy may remain only on paper.”
The work is the result of more than two decades of reflection and brings together analyses produced between 2021 and 2024 on the paths of economic development in Mozambique.
During the presentation, Salim Valá stated that the State remains “vital for development in countries like Mozambique,” emphasizing the need for strong, entrepreneurial and meritocratic institutions.
The minister also highlighted the shift in the basis of global competitiveness, stating that “the new competitive advantage is not in natural resources underground, but in the creative intelligence of the people,” reinforcing the importance of investing in human capital.
Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá
Valá further argued that “in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy, the future of prosperity is built on investment in innovation, technology and justice,” warning about the challenges of financing economic transformation in the country.
The book proposes a more focused, technically capable and results-oriented State, with a balance between regulation, planning and coordination with the private sector and society, aiming at inclusive and sustainable development.
On the occasion, the rector of the Pedagogical University, Luís Jorge Manuel António Ferrão, stated that the work is “an invitation to rethink economic development and the role of the State,” highlighting its relevance to the national debate.
The academic emphasized that “economic growth has not been sufficient to ensure structural transformation or social inclusion,” advocating for a review of public policies and development models.
The rector also pointed to dependence on external aid as one of the structural limitations, arguing for greater investment in solutions adapted to Mozambique’s reality and in strengthening institutions.
In turn, the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, stressed during the ceremony that “it is not only growth that we need, but development,” underlining the need to transform economic growth into social impact.
The head of state also stated: “We must do things differently to achieve different results,” advocating reforms and inclusive dialogue as instruments for development.
The ceremony took place in an atmosphere of academic and political debate, with calls to strengthen critical thinking and to value institutions as a foundation for more effective public policies.
Text: Germano Ndlovo
