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BuaNews (Tshwane)

South Africa: World Bank Lauds Mozambique's Economic Reforms

5 February 2008

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Maputo — As part of a four-country visit to Africa, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, is visiting Mozambique and has praised the country's economic reform.

During his first visit to the country, he praised Mozambique for its progress in implementing economic reforms that have boosted growth and placed it among the leading economic performers in the continent over the past decade.

"I am truly impressed with the economic and social progress that Mozambique has made over the past decade, and commend the country's leadership for successfully carrying out reforms that have led to economic growth and have helped make Mozambique a major destination for foreign investment," he said Monday, during his three day tour.

"My visit to Mozambique provides me with an opportunity to listen and learn how we can better support the country's important development agenda."

Mozambique requires continued reforms in governance, he observed, so that the country could get the most out of new investments.

"In this way, economic growth will improve the everyday lives of all Mozambicans," he added

During his stay, Mr Zoellick met with President Armando Guebuza, Prime Minister Luisa Diogo and several government ministers.

He visited Sofala province where he saw the reconstruction of the Sena railway and talked to patients in Beira hospital who are suffering from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Mr Zoellick also viewed the extent of flooding-in areas near the Zambezi and Púngue rivers.

In the capital Maputo, Mr Zoellick visited the Mozal aluminium plant and Temane gas distribution point for the city, both of which have been supported by the World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

The World Bank head held roundtable discussions with the private sector and with various groups involved in addressing the HIV and AIDS challenge in that southern African state.

All the activities viewed during the three-day visit have received some form of World Bank Group financial support.

Throughout the meetings and field visits, three key themes were discussed, namely:

•  how Mozambique can sustain high economic and social progress and thereby successfully transition from a post-conflict country to one that is accessing new sources of growth;

•  how governance challenges can be tackled to ensure broad-based growth;

•  and how Mozambique can better address the problem of HIV and AIDS and its impact on the country's development.

Speaking the reporters before his departure, Mr Zoellick emphasised the World Bank Group's commitment to supporting Mozambique in meeting its development challenges as outlined in its new Country Partnership Strategy for 2008-11.

In particular, these challenges are promoting accountability and public voice; increasing equitable access to key services; and achieving broad-based growth.

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