The UK Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, is visiting Mozambique to reaffirm the strength of the bilateral partnership and the UK’s commitment to long-term cooperation, based on mutual benefits and shared priorities, the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday, 28 January.
According to the statement, the visit comes a week after the deployment of international UK search and rescue teams, operating in coordination with national authorities, as part of a new £2 million emergency funding package, delivered in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique and humanitarian partners.
On the first day of the official visit, Baroness Chapman and the Minister of Planning and Development signed a new UK–Mozambique Growth Agreement, aimed at unlocking up to $3 billion in potential UK investment and promoting climate-resilient economic growth.
“The agreement aims to lay the foundations for increased responsible investment and the creation of higher-quality jobs for Mozambican citizens,” the UK minister explained after the signing ceremony.
The visit also includes the launch of several UK-supported initiatives, including a new venture capital financing instrument through Finance Sector Deepening Africa, designed to strengthen capital markets in Mozambique and mobilize investment in agribusiness and climate innovation. A strategic partnership with consulting firm McKinsey is also planned, aimed at supporting the country in revitalizing and implementing its green industrialization strategy.
“This visit highlights the real impact of our partnership with Mozambique. The UK is fulfilling its commitment to a new type of relationship with African countries, based on respect, equality, and shared priorities.”
— Baroness Chapman
In the field of the rule of law, a new agreement was signed with the International Centre for Asset Recovery, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, aimed at strengthening national capacity to investigate and combat corruption, illicit financing, and money laundering. In health and women’s empowerment, the two countries agreed on an updated cost-sharing framework for contraceptive supply and expressed the intention to develop an innovative financial instrument focused on adolescent family planning and women’s autonomy.
Speaking after the signing of the Growth Agreement, Baroness Chapman stated that the visit demonstrates the tangible impact of cooperation between the two countries. “This visit highlights the real impact of our partnership with Mozambique. The UK is fulfilling its commitment to a new type of relationship with African countries, based on respect, equality, and shared priorities,” she said.
The minister also highlighted UK support for flood response, investment mobilization, and strengthening strategic social sectors. “From the rapid deployment of teams to support flood response, to unlocking investment and promoting climate-smart growth, to strengthening health systems and empowering young women, this visit demonstrates the UK’s determination to work with Mozambique to drive reforms and build more resilient and inclusive systems,” she emphasized.
The visit is part of the UK’s new approach to Africa, launched in December 2025, marking a shift from traditional aid models to partnerships based on equality, mutual respect, and shared goals, recognizing Africa’s central role in global economic growth, climate leadership, and international security.
Source: Diário Económico
