“Commitment to the national constructive dialogue has enabled meaningful progress towards the settlement of differences and building an effective, lasting and sustainable peace which provides the necessary environment for the strengthening of national unity, reconciliation and resumption of the country’s economic growth.” President Filipe Nyusi
Mozambique’s economy is on the rebound; within the first half of 2018, it grew at the rate of 3.2%, inducing declines in interest rates and the stabilisation of its currency. “The medium-and long-term prospects for the Mozambican economy are excellent,” states Dr Rogério Zandamela, Governor of the Bank of Mozambique. “We have already calibrated our instruments to ensure macroeconomic and financial system stability to provide greater predictability to economic agents in their decisions to save and invest.” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also stated that in 2019, the Mozambican economy could grow between 4% and 4.7% (higher than the 3.5% forecast for 2018). The main reasons for this are the government’s focus on peace, as well as its relaxation of monetary policy and fiscal consolidation resulting in improved ease of doing business.
Hydrocarbon research and production underway in the north of Mozambique are also key to the nation’s transformation and growth. The recent discovery of enormous reserves of hydrocarbons is set to position Mozambique as one of the world’s leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters. The Mozambique LNG Project is Mozambique’s first ever onshore LNG development and, according to Omar Mithá, Chairman and CEO of ENH, “is an integrated project: upstream and mainstream, two trains, with a 5.6 million capacity each to produce 12 million tonnes per annum.” The Project will also initially supply volumes of approximately 100 million cubic feet per day of natural gas for domestic use in Mozambique, and is expected to have a future expansion of up to 50 million tonnes per annum. “Our major goal is then to construct both the offshore developments and the two onshore LNG processing trains and associated facilities safely, on time and on budget,” explains Steve Wilson, Anadarko’s Vice President & Country Manager. The South Coral Project and the Rovuma LNG Project is the first project in the development of the (approximately) 450 billion cubic metres of gas in Rovuma Basin’s Area 4. The Plan of Development foresees the drilling and completion of six subsea wells and the construction of the FLNG. It is also the first Project Finance ever arranged in the world for a liquefaction floater. Alessandro Nanotti, General Manager Upstream of Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., explains; “The insurance on the project is the largest ever done on the whole value of the vessel, in which partners will invest seven billion dollars. The project-financing is the largest ever ensured in Africa and we believe that we will contribute to the economic recovery of the country.”
Abundant natural resource wealth and the nation’s fertile, arable land, has placed Mozambique on the foreign direct investment (FDI) map. “Mozambique has vast unexploited mineral resources, large areas of arable land with ample ground water, 2400 kilometres of coastline with underexploited marine resources and pristine beaches as potential leisure destinations,” explains Jose Parayanken, President of Mozambique Holdings Limited. Mozambique’s Economic and Social Plan (PES) 2019, reveals that the nation’s commitment to diversification and inclusive growth will ensure strong performances in mining, fisheries and agricultural sectors. Its potential in energy generation though renewables and EDM’s introduction of new technologies aims to electrify the whole nation by 2025, while improved exchange control, local content law and Nacala Logistics Corridor are encouraging domestic production, generating jobs and enhancing income potential. MD Ramesh, President and Head of Olam in south and east Africa, states: “We are trying to ensure that farming communities do well and create wealth for themselves so that they can decide how they can use that wealth.”
With a favourable trading environment and current investment in infrastructure, Mozambique is ready to live up to its full potential at last. “Mozambique has competitive advantages in terms of position, resources and our people are very determined and work hard,” declares Samuel Samo Gudo, President of Escopil. “We are now building strong government institutions which is making Mozambique more sustainable in the long-run.”
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