Maputo — Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali on Monday swore into office Lourenco Pelembe as director of the Prime Minister's Office, and Jose Rudolfo as General Inspector of Economic Activities.

Pelembe was previously Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State Administration, and Rudolfo was General Inspector in the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The appointments, said Ali, were intended to strengthen public institutions so that they would be better able to face the challenges of the fight against poverty.

He recalled that in August 2009 the government had set up the National Inspectorate of Economic Activities (INAE), the body that Rudolfo will now head, in order "to improve the business environment, making the various inspection services active and homogenous".

"What is intended", he added, "is that a businessman, once his company has been inspected, can feel comfortable that he will not be subjected to other inspections of the same kind in an unregulated space of time, except in cases of obvious violations of the norms in force"

"INAE has the task of stimulating economic development", he said, "and the challenge of acting as an advisor to businesses".

As for the Prime Minister's Office, Ali said that it has an important job in the smooth running of the state apparatus. It should provide support and assistance to himself and to the Cabinet, in a range of services that ensure the coordination of the government and its administrative functioning. "The new director has the heavy responsibility of participating in the planning, organisation and control of the daily activities of this office and to contribute with his knowledge and professional experience to making its operations ever more efficient", the Prime Minister declared.