Maputo — The Mozambican government approved on Tuesday the "National Good Service Programme" (PNBS), costed at 6.5 million meticais (238,500 US dollars), aimed at improving the provision of services.

The programme is intended to involve and mobilize all public and private entities to promote good service to their clients.

Addressing reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting, the government spokesperson, Deputy Education Minister Luis Covane, said that the programme is to be carried out under the slogan "Mozambique: the pride of good service". It will involve all relevant bodies, but will be coordinated by the Ministries of Tourism and of Industry and Trade.

"All conditions have already been created for the programme to take off", said Covane, explaining that it will attempt to solve problems raised in complaints about the quality of service in hotels and restaurants, among other sectors.

He said that in the short term this should improve the quality of service for clients who may visit the country during the football World Cup, due to be held next year in South Africa, as well as the All Africa games and the World Hockey Championships, both to be hosted by Mozambique in 2011.

The budget of the programme is to be used to produce promotional materials, advertisements, courses and lectures to raise awareness among society of the benefits of providing good service.