PM’s Mozambique visit aimed to bolster business ties
6/3/2010

Prime Minister José Sócrates’ visit to Mozambique later this week could help trigger a new jump in Portuguese exports and business deals in the former colony, Lisbon’s ambassador said this week.

Ambassador Mário Godinho de Matos told the Lusa News Agency that Prime Minister Sócrates’ three-day visit, which commenced on Wednesday, would serve to boost “the good (political) relationship” between Lisbon and Maputo and “naturally, economic ties too”.

He noted that Portuguese exports to the southeast African nation grew by one-third last year and that the prime minister would be accompanied by a 50-strong business delegation.

“Economic, trade and investment relations accompany political relations” and “good political ties also are a facilitating factor for economic activities”, Godinho de Matos stressed.

He said that Portuguese businesses were looking to “diversify” operations in Africa after a period of concentration in major oil-producer Angola.

Portugal is Mozambique’s second biggest foreign investor after Norway.

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza is expected to visit Lisbon in April. TPN/Lusa

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