“I think it will be a record. Portugal said that the previous record was with Brazil. But I believe with Mozambique we will set a new record. I think they had around 19 agreements with Brazil, and we have about 21. Some are still being finalized,” the Mozambican foreign affairs minister told journalists in Porto.
The sixth Portugal-Mozambique Summit will take place on Tuesday, featuring the presence of Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, along with roughly two dozen members from both governments.
The legal instruments to be signed, including cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding, involve the two states directly, as well as public companies from both countries, the minister clarified.
“The new areas are related to communications and digital transformation, especially digital, but we also have the infrastructure segment. Portugal has been involved in the gas and ‘oil and gas’ sector, and now we’ll seek partnerships between the two countries, including our entities like the ENH [Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos] and others. Additionally, we are focusing on the private sector, trade, and investments. This is where we need to innovate to increase Portuguese investments in Mozambique,” she added.
Portuguese goods exports to Mozambique grew by 0.8% in 2024, reaching 216.1 million euros, led by pharmaceuticals, while imports amount to about 10% of that value, making the Mozambican market only the 77th supplier to Portugal.
According to data provided to Lusa by the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP) regarding commercial relations between the two countries, which, in addition to the sixth bilateral summit, will also hold a business forum on the same day in Porto, Mozambican exports of goods fell by 25.8% from 2023 to 2024, amounting to 26.2 million euros.
“Portugal has always been, maybe not number one today, but always at the forefront. As I said, Portugal is involved in all areas (…). We cooperate with Portugal in all areas,” emphasized the Mozambican foreign affairs minister, noting that around 500 companies are expected at the business forum.
“So far, we have about 500 businesspeople, mainly Portuguese, but also our Mozambicans here. This shows the interest of both countries in working together,” said Maria Manuela Lucas.
She recalled that this summit takes place in Porto three years after the one held in Maputo, marking the first involving Daniel Chapo, inaugurated as the fifth Mozambican President in January of this year.
The aim, she noted, is to assess the current level of cooperation and prepare for the future: “We have a strategic cooperation program for 2022-2026, and now we are working on the second project, the program that will start in 2027. So, what we want is to evaluate the decisions made at the last bilateral meeting and then explore new areas of cooperation.”
The minister stressed the “historic, special, and strategic” relationship with Portugal, encompassing extensive cooperation “in all areas, from culture and education to health,” including “mineral resources, energy, infrastructure, and now even public finances.”
However, she acknowledged that it is also a moment to “thank Portugal and the Portuguese people for their support” during “difficult times:” “We are talking about facing the impacts of climate change, such as cyclones, droughts, and floods. Just in three, four months, we have had three cyclones in Mozambique. So they have been there. Another area where we also come to express gratitude is defense and security, particularly in the fight against terrorism. Portugal is always at the forefront, supporting through the European Union our defense and security forces.”
