Maputo — The Belgian government has announced that it will grant Mozambique 55 million euros (about 73 million US dollars) to support the agriculture, livestock, energy and health sectors over the next four years.

Speaking in Maputo on Wednesday, shortly after the opening ceremony of a session of the Belgium/Mozambique Joint Commission, the General Director of Belgian Cooperation, Peter Moors, said that the contribution from his country fits into the main priorities of Mozambicans, particularly in agriculture, as the engine for the development of the economy, and in energy, so that more people may have access to electricity.

For his part, Mozambique’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Henrique Banze, said that the two countries “have advanced to a new stage”, and that relations with Belgium have been improving greatly.

“We are signing this agreement with Belgium, taking into account the actions undertaken during the previous programmes”, he added. “We want to produce a greater impact with this new programme that we shall implement in the area of rural electrification”.

Banze said it was of key importance that electricity should reach the entire country, in order to improve the quality if life and stimulate economic activity.