15 October 2007
Maputo — Mozambique is preparing to establish four Science and Technology Parks in the near future, dedicated to research in different areas of activity.
The areas to be covered include the development of agricultural technologies, agro-processing, energy and the environment, telecommunications, bio-technologies, bio-medicine and building materials.
These parks are to be set up in Maputo, Zambezia, and Nampula provinces.
The establishment of the Science and Technology Parks was one of the matters discussed by the Mozambican government at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Science and Technology Minister Venancio Massingue told reporters that the first such park is to be created in Manhica, in Maputo province, in a partnership between Mozambique and the Indian government, in a process that is to run for the next ten years.
"The provincial government has already allocated space and funds for the first phase in setting up the Manhica Park", said Manhica.
He said that there are already 25 million dollars for the Manhica Park, made available by the governments of Mozambique and India. This money is to be used to build laboratories and classrooms, to install computer equipment, and ensure water and electricity connections.
Asked about the criteria used to select the areas where the parks will be installed, Massingue explained that this depended on the availability of electricity, and access to a main road, port and airport.
The minister said these parks are intended to serve as bridges between research and the market, where knowledge-based companies and institutions may develop their research.
"These parks are to be based on three pillars, namely learning and research, technological incubation, and business and productive activities. These pillars are to function in a combined manner. Our intention is for these parks to be able to produce equipment, to assemble machinery, to develop software, research and multi-sector development", said Massingue.
He noted that, by creating these parks, the country will be one of the few countries in Africa with this type of development programme, following in the footsteps of Egypt and South Africa.
Similar experiences have occurred in countries such as the United States, Britain, China, Singapore, and India. Massingue added that this kind of initiative is led by governments all over the world, including in the USA, where there are 195 of them, with about 6,700 companies.
He said that "normally, these parks prioritise the relationship between the government and its partners and here our partners are the public sector in general, national or foreign higher education institutions, scientific research institutions, the national and foreign private sector and other interested parties'.
Massingue said that after the Maputo park, the others, in Moamba (which is also in Maputo province), in Zambezia and in Nampula - will be developed by the national private sector, who will be the main beneficiaries.
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