Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has officially invited Chinese business leaders to invest in Mozambique, urging them to capitalize on the country’s development phase to foster industrialization through the local processing of raw materials.
Speaking to approximately 350 business leaders in Hunan province during his state visit to China, President Chapo emphasized the urgency of the moment, using the metaphor that “the train is already moving and generally, the train does not wait.”
President Chapo highlighted that Mozambique is currently focused on building the foundations for its economic independence through structural transformation. The government’s goal is to move beyond mere resource extraction toward the development of value chains that generate local income and tax revenue.
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He specifically targeted entrepreneurs from Hunan—a province renowned for its agricultural, industrial, and mining machinery—to partner in these efforts.
President Chapo outlined several strategic areas where Mozambique seeks collaboration and technology transfer:
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Infrastructure: Construction and management of logistics corridors, ports, and one-stop border posts. The President expressed openness to granting 20-30 year concessions for infrastructure projects like roads.
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Industrialization & Tech: Processing raw materials locally to add value, moving away from a partnership model based solely on volume to one focused on technology transfer and qualified job creation.
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Energy: Investment in power plants to leverage gas reserves and provide energy exports to neighboring Southern African nations facing shortages.
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Agriculture & Innovation: Modernizing farming and logistics to utilize the country’s unique geographic position and maritime access.
The President reiterated that China is a “first-tier” strategic partner for Mozambique, not only for financing but for sharing knowledge. This visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, marking a push to deepen their strategic partnership further.
