1 July 2009
Munich — The chairperson of the German company Graphit Kropfmeuhl, Martin Ebeling, declared in Munich on Tuesday that it is worthwhile investing in Mozambique, despite the obstacles the country poses.
Speaking at a meeting between a Mozambican business delegation, headed by Deputy Education Minister Luis Covane (who is also the government's official spokesperson), and members of the Munich and Bavaria Chamber of Commerce, Eberling said that among the obstacles companies faced in Mozambique were the small size of the domestic market, the lack of any direct rail link between the north and the south, and the lengthy rainy season which often makes many roads impassable.
Nonetheless, Graphit Kropfmeuhl has just obtained a licence to explore for graphite in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
Eberling recognised that the Mozambican government is attempting to improve transport links, with its programme to build and rehabilitate roads, bridges and airports.
He pointed out to his fellow businessmen that, despite the small size of the Mozambican market, Mozambique was a springboard "from which we can reach South Africa and other members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in the context of regional integration". The SADC region as a whole has about 250 million consumers.
Graphit Krapfmuehl began working in Mozambique in the early 1980s, but had to interrupt its geological exploration because of the war of destabilisation waged against Mozambique by the apartheid regime. Nonetheless, Eberling regarded Mozambique as an adequate choice for long term investment, particularly in the mining sector.
For his part, Covane said that Mozambique is open to any type of investment. He stressed that the government's key priority is to build the country's human capital, which meant heavy investment in the education and health services. In particular, investment in technical and professional education would produce skilled staff who would be able to develop the country.
This business meeting was part of a "Mozambique week" celebrated in several German cities.
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