At a dinner organized by the Angolan Banking Association (Abanc), on the sidelines of his first visit to Angola after taking office as President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo highlighted the importance of “a robust and lasting economic partnership” for the prosperity of both peoples.
“Mozambique is Angola, Angola is Mozambique”, repeated the head of state to an audience of Angolan and Mozambican businesspeople, managers and other institutional guests, focusing on the need to have the private sector as a strategic partner for increasing investment in Mozambique and Angola.
Daniel Chapo addressed the growth of the Mozambican economy, based mainly on oil and gas, highlighting the need to diversify the economies of both countries.
Among the strategic areas he pointed out were infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, mineral resources and energy, as well as industrialization.
“Therefore, for this year the Government estimates growth of up to 3 percent in a moderately conservative scenario and with the possibility of increasing growth”, said Daniel Chapo, adding that the Government continues to undertake recovery and reform measures and that Mozambique, like Angola, has enormous economic potential.
“One of the fundamental objectives of our economic diplomacy and our presence here in a sister country, Angola, is to attract foreign direct investment and consolidate our trade relations with the rest of the world, such as the African continent”, continued Chapo, noting that the two countries are united by ties of language, history and culture.
The consolidation of trade relations also includes development corridors such as Lobito, and in Mozambique, those of Maputo, Beira and Nacala, which may be linked to Lobito.
“For this reason, our participation in this event also aims to capitalize on this opportunity,” said the Mozambican official, highlighting the investment opportunity for Angolan companies and investors, and the government measures to attract more national and foreign direct investment, in terms of visas, foreign exchange laws and tax reforms.
“We want more investment in Mozambique, from our Angolan brothers and from many other countries, so to enter Mozambique, for a business or tourist visa, you don’t need to apply for a visa, you can get the visa upon entry, upon arrival in Mozambique,” he explained, emphasizing that Mozambique is reaffirming itself as a destination for foreign investment, like Angola, in the energy, industry, infrastructure, agriculture and tourism sectors.
“Therefore, my sisters and brothers, I invite you, Mozambique and Angola, two sister countries, to come and invest in Mozambique. I invite our Angolan brothers, not only all the businesspeople and investors present here, but also our Mozambican brothers to come and invest in Angola,” he urged, stressing that “investing in Angola is investing in Mozambique and investing in Mozambique is investing in Angola.”
Daniel Chapo, who began a two-day official visit to Angola, marked by a meeting with his counterpart João Lourenço, returned to Maputo on Saturday.
