Opens business forum in Moscow

Mozambique has the potential to develop several enterprises with Russia in addition to natural gas projects, according to the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, speaking at the beginning of his official three-day visit to the country. Addressing specifically the Mozambican businesspeople in his delegation who are taking part today in Moscow in the first business forum between Mozambique and Russia, the head of state mentioned as other business priorities areas such as land, sea and air transport, agriculture, professional qualifications, tourism and energy. Following this, the Mozambican president directed the businesspeople to focus not only on the business forum between the two countries, but also on “one-on-one” contacts in order to get to know people better and to negotiate in the interest of all parties. On the occasion, the Mozambican business delegation presented a concern to the Head of State related to the fact that they would be aiming at doing business with a country under sanctions from the European Union and the United States of America. It was up to businessman Fernando Couto to present the concern, saying that it was easy to get on the West’s blacklist, but difficult to get off it.

“Russia is subject to sanctions by the European Union. We do not yet know what effects our relationship with Russian businesspeople will have. We have no answer to this concern of ours,” Couto said.

Without responding directly, the Mozambican president said that Russia was hoping to increase cooperation in various fields with Africa, especially with Mozambique, the holding of the Russia-Africa Summit next October being a practical example of this. President Nyusi explained that he was recently at the Southern African Development Community Summit in Tanzania, and reported that heads of state and government expectations [in relation to the Russia-Africa Summit] were high.

A total of 46 Mozambican businesspeople are participating in today’s Russia-Mozambique business forum, representing the construction, tourism, and mechanical industries, as well as the agriculture, health, logistics and services, hydrocarbons, energy, trade, technology and legal advice sectors. Speaking at the meeting with the president, Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) president Agostinho Vuma said that Mozambican businesspeople were enthusiastic about developing enterprises with Russia, referring to the various meetings held yesterday, notably with GASPROMBANK, for the diversification of the financial sector and the attraction of financing and insurance lines; with INCONTEX, a manufacturer of electronic, safety and fire protection equipment; and with the Russian Export Centre, focusing on agro-processing and agriculture as well as finance, leasing and insurance.

Vuma said that, as part of the promotion of economic diplomacy led by President Filipe Nyusi, a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce was expected to be signed today with the aim of boosting trade between the two countries and encouraging Russian investments in Mozambique. Meanwhile, in the course of his visit, President Nyusi will today open the Mozambique-Russia business forum, then visit Red Square to lay a wreath in memory of the Unknown Soldier. Later, Filipe Nyusi will meet members of the Mozambican community living in  Russia.