The Portuguese Government expressed today its availability to support Mozambique in the digital transformation of the state and the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative focuses on sharing technological experience to improve public services, support local businesses, and attract foreign direct investment.
“Large technology companies are investing and betting on Portugal in this area due to energy, talent, and proximity to submarine cables, and I see that these conditions also exist in Mozambique,” explained Portugal’s Minister of State and Administrative Reform, Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, in Maputo, highlighting that the European nation is rapidly turning into a prominent AI hub.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a lecture on state modernization and digital transformation held jointly with the Mozambican Government, the minister stated that the Portuguese executive is fully committed to sharing its experience.
This collaboration will cover attracting technological investments and developing digital solutions to enhance public service delivery, boost business competitiveness, and promote an ethical, regulated framework for AI utilization.
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“Everything that Portugal can share with Mozambique from its experience and the attraction of this type of investment, it will do, because this is evidently an industry of the future,” declared Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, adding that technology must serve citizens, small and medium enterprises, and public administration.
The minister also highlighted the corporate digital wallet developed by Portugal, considering it a crucial instrument that simplifies the relationship between businesses and the state, which could serve as a solid reference for joint initiatives between both nations.
“Portugal was the first country in the European Union to create a corporate digital wallet, which is a fundamental tool for entrepreneurs to better manage their companies and easily access the documents they need on a daily basis,” he stated. In turn, Mozambique’s Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation, Américo Muchanga, noted that the Portuguese experience could significantly accelerate Mozambican digital modernization.
Muchanga emphasized that learning from Portugal’s technological path will allow Mozambique to bypass common hurdles and implement lessons learned throughout the digitalization process, ultimately advocating for a deeper institutional cooperation between the two countries.
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During the lecture in Maputo, Gonçalo Saraiva Matias showcased Portuguese examples of public service digitalization, including the Virtual Citizen’s Shop, a centralized platform aggregating hundreds of accessible services via mobile phone or computer. He argued that such technology brings the state closer to its citizens and actively combats corruption through faster, fully transparent, and traceable administrative processes.
The digital initiative took place within the framework of strengthening cooperation between Mozambique and Portugal regarding state modernization, following agreements reached during the bilateral summit held in Porto in December 2025.
This bilateral strategic plan foresees the implementation of various joint projects covering digital governance frameworks, systems interoperability, and technological capacity building across multiple sectors. Both governments expect that this partnership will not only streamline public administration but also foster a more robust ecosystem for tech startups and digital entrepreneurship in Mozambique over the coming years.
