Luanda, 19 Jun (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo calls for structural investment in the tourism sector for economic transformation, reducing the country’s dependence on natural gas revenues.
According to Chapo, speaking on Wednesday in Luanda , during the Presidential Dialogue panel on Global Tourism Forum 202, held under the motto “Shaping the Future of Tourism in Emerging Destinations”, despite the large-scale investments planned in the liquefied natural gas sector, estimated at between 50 and 60 billion dollars over the next ten years, the economy must not be solely on extractive industries.
“We don’t want to focus solely on gas. We want to diversify our economy. Infrastructure development is a government priority. Roads, development corridors, and a regular supply of water and electricity are indispensable conditions for attracting investors and boosting the country’s most promising tourist and ecological areas”, he said.
Another challenge highlighted by the Chapo is air connectivity on the African continent. He lamented that some routes between African countries continue to depend on stopovers in Europe or the Middle East, advocating for greater regional integration.
The President praised the air link between Luanda and Maputo, currently operated five times a week, and called for a strengthening of connections within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He also mentioned the support provided by the African Development Bank for initiatives aimed at restructuring African airlines, with a view to facilitating integrated tourism circuits in the region.
“It is important to create a favorable environment for national and foreign investors. If possible, we should even introduce golden visas for investors who make large investments and wish to obtain permanent residency in our countries”, he said.
The President also emphasized the capacity of tourism to generate employment and promote social inclusion, in contrast to extractive industries, which require highly specialized labor in the exploration phase.
“Tourism generates employment from the woman selling products on the street to the top manager of a luxury hotel, resort, or tourist resort”, he said.
Regarding the security situation in Cabo Delgado, Daniel Chapo sought to reassure investors, stating that the existing challenges are limited to a part of the national territory and should not be generalized to the entire country.
As a sign of the recovery of international confidence, he revealed that the TotalEnergies project was resumed last November and that the Government is working to finalize, next September, the final investment decision by ExxonMobil, in a project estimated at 20 billion dollars.
Chapo also advocated for greater African economic integration, calling for the progressive elimination of barriers inherited from the Berlin Conference and the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The President also held talks with the President of Angola, João Lourenço, on strengthening air links between the two countries, as well as on deepening financial and energy cooperation, involving sovereign wealth funds and national oil companies, “with the aim of creating better living conditions for the people of Mozambique and Angola.”
(AIM)
Pc/Am/
