Embassy of the United States Maputo, Mozambique

In the United States

• The African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) 2012 Forum will be held in Washington, DC June 14-15, 2012

In Mozambique
 

Direct Line to American Businesses: Overview of Mozambique’s Business Environment

Date: Wednesday October 31, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. EST/8 a.m. Central (3 p.m. Mozambique)

On Wednesday October 31, 2012 at 9 a.m. EST/8 a.m. Central/3 p.m. in Mozambique, U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique Douglas M. Griffiths will host a conference call to discuss Mozambique’s business environment, the first call in the Embassy’s “Direct Line to American Business” series.  Relevant Mission personnel from USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Political/Economic Section will also be available to contribute their perspectives on doing business in Mozambique.  

Following the U.S. Embassy-hosted “Let’s Do Business:  U.S.-Mozambique 2012” business conference in Maputo last April, interest in Mozambique continues to increase, with a number of major U.S. companies expressing their intentions to enter the Mozambican market or to set up country offices.   There is tremendous untapped potential for U.S. businesses in Mozambique.  Mozambique is politically stable and its GDP growth rate has consistently exceeded 7%, even during the international financial crisis.  Mozambican exports benefit from access to preferential markets like the United States (via the African Growth and Opportunity Act), Southern African Development Community, and the EU. Abundant natural resources (gas, coal, minerals), access to regional markets (southern Africa, South Asia, Middle East), and a relatively pro-business government positions Mozambique to be a leading commercial destination in the region. 

However, many challenges remain as Mozambique ranks in the bottom third in the World Bank’s annual Doing Business Report.  There are pressing needs for better infrastructure and more trained personnel to facilitate continued economic growth.  The government recognizes these challenges and has publicly committed to improving the business environment and investing in infrastructure and people.  
During the call, Ambassador Griffiths and his team will provide further information about the investment climate and emphasize some of the most promising sectors.  A Q&A session will follow.

For registration information please contact Charles Brown Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Maputo Mozambique maputocommercial@state.gov

• FACIM, the largest annual trade and industry fair in Mozambique will be held in Marracuene (on the outskirts of Maputo) in August 2012.

Mozambique Public Tenders, a list of public tenders currently available for companies looking for business and investment opportunities in Mozambique