Japanese companies and Japanese government officials visited Mozambique from May 1 to 3 on the Public and Private Sector Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment in Africa. Mr. Nandio Durao, who is in charge of Mozambique as an Africa advisor of UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, participated in the seminar and business meetings held as part of the mission.

Public-Private Partnerships was an important theme at the TICAD 8 held in Tunisia last year, and the mission was part of efforts aimed at promoting trade and investment between Japan and Africa. The mission was attended by 54 participants, including 25 private companies (trading companies, financial institutions, manufacturing, construction, start-up companies, etc.) and Japanese government officials.

Mr. Durao from UNIDO ITPO Tokyo supported the preparation of hosting the mission and, spoke at the “Japan-Mozambique Investment Seminar” organized by the Investment and Export Promotion Agency (APIEX) of Mozambique and co-organized by the Chamber of Commerce Mozambique (CCM), which was held in Maputo on May 2. Mr. Durao introduced UNIDO ITPO Tokyo’s Africa Advisor Programme, which supports Japanese companies to expand their businesses in Africa.

In later meetings, Mr. Durao had the opportunity to have discussions with many Japanese companies participating in the mission and received inquiries about their businesses in a wide range of fields, including electricity, gas, agriculture, education, medical care, and construction. UNIDO ITPO Tokyo will continue to support these companies in their efforts to enter and expand business in Mozambique through meetings with relevant organizations in Mozambique and by providing them with useful information.