Maputo, 10 Jul (AIM) – Akinwumi Adesina – executive chairman of the Global Africa Investment Summit (GAIS) and former chairman of the African Development Bank (AfDB) –belives that the transformation of Mozambique’s vast natural resources into industrialization is crucial for the country’s economic sustainability.
According to Adesina, speaking to reporters on Thursday, after being granted an audience by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, the country must transform its economy in order to mobilize investments for inclusive and sustainable development.
He explained that meeting with the President focused on areas deemed crucial for the country’s future, namely natural resource-based industrialization, agriculture, the blue economy, health, and attracting international investment.
“A key priority of the discussions was the need to transform the country’s vast natural resources into wealth, jobs, and industrialization. Natural gas is a lever to develop value-added industries, including the production of methanol, ethanol, and urea, reducing raw material exports and boosting job creation”, he said.
“Industrialization is the path to transforming resources into prosperity. Mozambique is well-positioned to establish itself as a major industrial hub in the region”, he added.
According to Adesina, boosting agriculture and aquaculture is crucial to reduce food imports, as well as “strengthening food security and creating thousands of job opportunities, especially for Mozambican youth.”
He added that economic development must translate into a tangible improvement in the population’s quality of life. “Every Mozambican deserves quality healthcare. A country’s prosperity is measured by the lives of its people”, he said.
Another highlight of the meeting was the discussion on mobilizing private investment. Adesina revealed that the Global Africa Investment Summit is working closely with the Mozambican government to attract investors committed to long-term, transformative projects.
“The goal is not merely to secure capital, but to ensure investments capable of transforming the national economy, creating jobs, strengthening the private sector, and fostering inclusive growth.
The meeting underscores Mozambique’s growing international profile among strategic partners and influential figures across the African continent, at a time when the government is seeking to accelerate industrialization, diversify the economy, and position the country as a prime destination for sustainable investment”, he said.
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