President Nyusi urges Italian companies to prioritise local content

Maputo, 14 Oct (AIM) – President Filipe Nyusi on 13 October invited Italian companies operating in the country to prioritise local content as a way of promoting and valuing Mozambican products.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Maputo alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is on a working visit to Mozambique, President Nyusi said he hoped Italian companies will work with local content “in order to empower Mozambicans”.

The use of local materials, he added, would reduce the need for imports, and thus contribute to the development of the country.

“We must work to transform raw materials inside the country, and this is fundamental”, stressed President Nyusi. “In the context of the natural gas projects, we must also consider the domestic use of gas”.

The stated purpose of Meloni’s visit is to deepen the longstanding ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Italy and Mozambique. Both President Nyusi and Meloni stressed the interest of their governments in consolidating bilateral cooperation, and stimulating economic diplomacy.

During the official talks, the two delegations reviewed the political, economic and social situation of the two countries, and the security aspects that are conditioning the development of Mozambique.

On the question of climate change, Meloni said Italy has a Climate Fund initiative of around three billion euros to invest in African nations.

She said the economic and commercial relations between Mozambique and Italy “are very solid”, but “we want to drive a new approach, a new cooperation. A friendship that was already solid in the past could come to have a strengthened partner in the coming years, which is why I have come here to get to know the President (Nyusi) personally”.
(AIM)