22 Aug Interview with Onório Manuel, President of the Mozambique-US Chamber of Commerce (CCMUSA)
Can you elaborate on MozParks’ mission and the important role in attracting investment and economic development in Mozambique?
At MozParks, our primary focus is on driving the industrialization of Mozambique through the development and management of industrial parks. Our flagship model is the Beluluane Industrial Park in Maputo province, which has been operational for over 24 years. It is the largest and oldest industrial park in Mozambique, hosting around 50 companies from over 18 countries, including the US, India, South Africa, Germany and Finland.
We began developing the Topuito Industrial Park in Nampula in partnership with Kenmare Resources. Our strategy involves establishing industrial parks near significant projects, as we did in Maputo with the aluminium smelting company,MOZAL, and now in Nampula with Kenmare, which specializes in heavy sands. Although still under construction, the Topuito park already hosts ten companies providing services to Kenmare. Additionally, we launched the Afungi Industrial Park in Cabo Delgado’s Palma district, linked to the TotalEnergies initiative. However, due to security concerns, it is currently on hold.
MozParks is focused on promoting industrial growth in Mozambique because we believe that industrialization is crucial for sustainable development. Mozambique has unique strengths, like its 1,600 mile coastline, which makes it a strategic hub for investors. Our natural resources, including hydrocarbons, solid minerals and over 36 million acres of arable land, offer great potential to be turned into value-added goods. Also, MozParks is a public-private partnership, with the Mozambican state represented by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and APIEX, the investment and export promotion agency. The remaining 60% is privately owned, allowing us to create a favorable environment for attracting and supporting investments in Mozambique. Our mission is to develop a network of industrial parks that will serve as the foundation for the country’s industrial and economic growth.
MozParks is currently operating parks in Maputo and Nampula. In which other provinces are you developing additional infrastructure and which provinces do you see as having significant potential for future development?
MozParks has a government mandate to develop industrial parks across Mozambique, including provinces like Gaza, which has heavy sand projects and Inhambane. Almost every province has a significant anchor project that can drive its industrialization, so our goal is to establish at least one industrial park in nearly every province. Cabo Delgado stands out because it is home to more than five major projects, so we plan to develop multiple industrial parks there, each aligned with these large-scale initiatives.
How does MozParks plan to support this effort?
MozParks is committed to developing the necessary infrastructure to support industrial growth. This involves two key aspects: government-provided infrastructure and park-specific infrastructure. The government is responsible for essential services such as energy, roads and water, which are crucial for the success of any industrial park. On our end, MozParks focuses on developing the internal infrastructure within the parks to ensure that investors have everything they need to establish and operate.
Quality infrastructure is essential for industrialization. For example, reliable energy is crucial for running machinery and maintaining production efficiency. The competitiveness of industries in Mozambique depends on having this solid foundation. In today’s global market, where major players operate with advanced technology and optimized processes, it’s vital that our industries can compete on cost and productivity. Without a strong infrastructure, reaching this level of competitiveness wouldn’t be possible. That’s why MozParks views infrastructure development as the key to supporting and growing industry in Mozambique.
With sustainability becoming increasingly important in global investments, how does MozParks integrate sustainable practices into its projects and partnerships?
We are proud to operate as an eco-industrial park, with a strong commitment to sustainability. Our approach is built around three key pillars: economic, social and environmental sustainability.
On the environmental front, we ensure that our industrial activities are conducted with the utmost respect for the environment. We adopt the best environmental management practices to minimize any potential risks. One of our significant initiatives is promoting renewable energy within our parks. We’ve received government approval to produce renewable energy on-site, which is a major step toward becoming greener. Additionally, we’ve implemented a ‘green belt’—a zone of afforestation around our parks—to counterbalance carbon emissions by planting trees that help restore the environment and increase oxygen production. We also prioritize waste management by ensuring that all waste generated within the parks is properly treated and recycled, preventing environmental contamination.
Economically, our parks contribute significantly to Mozambique’s development. By fostering industrial production and boosting exports, we support the growth of the country’s GDP. As a designated industrial free trade zone, many of our parks’ companies focus on exports, which plays a crucial role in balancing the trade deficit. MozParks alone accounts for approximately 24% of the country’s exports, highlighting our impact on the national economy.
Socially, we are dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for local people Our parks generate jobs, internships and educational opportunities that help build a strong knowledge base for future generations. This ensures that Mozambique’s workforce is well-prepared to lead the country toward sustainable development. Our commitment to sustainability is deeply integrated into every aspect of our operations, ensuring that we positively impact the environment, economy and society.
What opportunities do you see as having significant potential for US investors and how can they partner with you to expand their businesses not only in Mozambique but across Africa?
When we were elected to lead the Mozambique-U.S. Chamber of Commerce (CCMUSA) in April, we took on a significant challenge. With a thirty-year history, CCMUSA is one of Mozambique’s oldest bilateral chambers, reflecting a long and strong relationship with the US. While much has been achieved over the years, our new leadership is committed to doing even more. We’re now in a crucial period where American investment in Mozambique is expected to grow like never before.
Our goal is for CCMUSA to be the main point of contact for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations. With Exxon set to make a final investment decision soon, a wave of American companies that work with Exxon will likely turn their attention to Mozambique. We want to be fully prepared for this influx because if we’re not ready, we risk missing out on these opportunities.
CCMUSA is focused on opening doors and preparing the market to welcome the upcoming American investments, especially those linked to Exxon. The value chain of a company like Exxon includes everything from maintenance and parts manufacturing to accommodation and security. We are dedicated to promoting these investment opportunities to North American investors.
Regarding the USA-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, how has your experience been, and what results do you think you’ve achieved with this visit?
Our experience at the USA-Africa Business Summit in Dallas was productive and we believe we achieved meaningful results. We used the forum to highlight Mozambique’s readiness to welcome investments, especially from North America. We shared that Mozambique has recently made key decisions to facilitate this, including visa exemptions for American investors, as part of the Economic Acceleration Package, a presidential initiative.
We also informed them about improvements in our labor laws, which now allow for more flexible hiring practices and introduced our new renewable energy law, which should help attract investment in that sector. Additionally, we discussed the new private investment law that has replaced the outdated 1993 legislation, making it easier and more attractive to invest in Mozambique.
Beyond these updates, we took the opportunity to showcase Mozambique itself, as many Americans are still unfamiliar with our country. We promoted Mozambique and outlined the steps needed to establish a presence there.
We’re confident that our message was well received, though we expect to see results over the medium to long term, not immediately. We’re also planning a follow-up mission to the United States later this year, with visits to Louisiana, Washington and Texas. This mission will continue the work we started at the summit, focusing on those interested in opportunities in Mozambique’s oil, gas, agro-processing and other sectors. Mozambique is a land full of opportunities.
What final message would you like to share with the millions of USA TODAY readers?
As president of CCMUSA, my main goal is to attract American investment to take advantage of the opportunities in Mozambique. With the Africa Free Trade Zone Agreement in place, Mozambique and other African countries are becoming top choices for investment. This agreement encourages trading within Africa by promoting goods made in Africa, while goods from outside will have higher customs duties. This makes it important for investors to pick a country within Africa.
Mozambique has strong advantages for investors. Our location connects us with landlocked countries and businesses can easily access global markets by ship or plane. The Africa Free Trade Zone Agreement helps by promoting trade within Africa and adding duties on goods from outside the continent. This makes Mozambique, with its unique benefits, a great place to invest. We invite American and other international investors to explore and make the most of these opportunities.