Africa Centre Of Excellence: Discussions about Business Opportunities in Mozambique

The Africa Centre of Excellence will hold these professional meetings in conjunction with the official investment promotion agency of Mozambique will lead a delegation of at least seven members in Mauritius. The Mozambican delegation will be led by the director of business development service agency for investment promotion and include representatives of banking, manufacturing, tourism, agro-industry and the special economic zone.

"We already have our agenda holding thirty direct professional meetings. Many local operators have already appeared for the individual meetings, "said Kevin Bessoondyal, Head of Africa Centre of Excellence in Mauritius. The BoI has also planned to hold a working lunch with the Mauritian companies that have invested in Mozambique and wishing to expand their operations in the country.

Several large groups of Mauritius have made significant investments in Mozambique for a number of years. In the sugar sector, Atleo group through the activities of Compania de Sena, strongly marked its presence. In the agro-industry, Innodis group has expanded its activities in a promising area: poultry. The group intends to do with his new partner company Irvine, further investments to increase production in the coming years. Mauritian companies are also present in the banking (Mauritius Commercial Bank), new information technologies and communication (Seacom Ltd.) Accounting Services (Grant Thorton, manufacturing (FAIL / Avitech, Rogers), Food (VitaRice Ltd.), among others.

According to a market survey conducted by the Africa Centre of Excellence, Mozambique is seen as "one of Africa's success stories," that in light of sustained economic progress. " The country’s location, its abundant endowment of renewable energy, it’s still unexploited mineral wealth and its market-oriented policies boast a lucrative investment environment Mauritian companies can tap on," says the direction of the Africa Centre of Excellence.

Mozambique in recent years an average growth rate of 7.3%, with services accounting for about 44% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), before the agricultural sector (31.8%) and industry (24.6 %). The inflation rate has hovered between 5 and 6% in 2011 and 2012 while the budget deficit and public debt are at about 6.5% and 40% of GDP respectively. The study of the Africa Centre of Excellence indicates that service providers in Mauritius have the opportunity to develop activities in Mozambique in the areas of finance, ICT and logistics. Local entrepreneurs can also be part of the partnership projects in the operating reserves of gas and coal sector. Investments may also be considered in light aircraft such as the engineering and textile and clothing in addition to agricultural activities (production of bananas, chickens on the table, corn, rice and vegetables) sectors. Business opportunities in the tourism sector also deserve to be considered, says the Africa Centre of Excellence.

" With around 23 millions citizens, this is a society where things could change very rapidly and investors ought to keep it on their radar " says in the Africa Centre of Excellence.

In addition, promotional activities BoI on African markets are increasing. After holding the "Mozambique Week," a delegation of about twenty Mauritian entrepreneurs, led by the BoI, will successively in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kenya, and Kampala, Uganda to explore investment opportunities in these countries. Scheduled for May 6 to 10, the mission through meetings targeted business investment opportunities in sectors such as financial services, ICT, real estate and manufacturing.

The BoI has supported promotion agencies of each country to organize a tour of local entrepreneurs. Cooperation protocols (Memorandum of Understanding) signed with these agencies to help facilitate such exchanges, do we stand in circles BoI.