Maputo, 3 August 2026 (ECA) — Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Claver Gatete, met with H.E. Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique, opening a high-level two-day mission aimed at deepening ECA's partnership with Mozambique and aligning technical support with the country's national development priorities.
Received at the President's working office in Maputo, the ECA delegation was welcomed by President Chapo, who outlined a bold and clear development vision anchored in five priority sectors: energy, agriculture, industrialisation, digitalisation, and tourism. The President emphasised Mozambique's ambition to become a regional energy hub, building on its hydropower potential, ongoing LNG operations in Cabo Delgado, and plans to develop downstream industries including fertiliser production. Infrastructure and logistics were identified as critical enablers, with three strategic transport corridors, through Maputo Port, the Zambia-Zimbabwe link, and the Northern Mozambique corridor at the heart of the country's connectivity agenda.
Executive Secretary Gatete welcomed the clarity of the vision and was direct about what comes next.
"Delivery is the greatest challenge, not planning. Governments must start somewhere, demonstrate progress, and build trust. Mozambique has the resources, the vision, and the partnerships. What matters now is organised, sustained execution."
He noted that with nearly 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity, demand for Mozambique's energy resources is guaranteed, making the quality of investment agreements and implementation oversight decisive.
The mission also included meetings with H.E. Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and H.E. Maria de Fátima Simão Manso, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, where discussions focused on aligning ECA's technical assistance with government priorities, investing in human capital, and strengthening Africa's collective voice in global economic governance.
With H.E. Mito Albino, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, both sides reaffirmed agriculture as a priority area for transformative, country-led support, with concrete follow-up actions agreed to identify areas of joint collaboration.
With H.E. Salimo Valá, Minister of Planning and Development, discussions went to the heart of Mozambique's challenge, turning plans into results. ECA committed to presenting a digital planning and implementation tracking platform, supporting feasibility studies in priority sectors, and deploying technical expertise to resolve bottlenecks on the ground.
FAO Representative José Luis Fernandez, serving as UN Resident Coordinator a.i., underscored the timeliness of the mission, noting its alignment with preparations for the new UN Cooperation Framework beginning in January 2027. ECA Southern Africa Sub-Regional Office Director Eunice Kamwendo highlighted the Commission's existing engagement on industrialisation, Regional Value Chains, tourism, Special Economic Zones, and energy — all directly aligned with Mozambique's development agenda.
Both sides agreed to maintain close dialogue, including engagement on the margins of future African Union Summits, and to advance a focused programme of technical support anchored in measurable results.
Issued by:
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Economic Commission for Africa
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