UK-Mozambique Investment Forum, December 2010

On 2nd December 2010, at One Whitehall Place, London, Developing Markets Associates in conjunction with the High Commission of Mozambique to the United Kingdom, hosted the UK-Mozambique Investment Forum 2010.

The event was attended by some 200 delegates who were welcomed with opening remarks by HE António Gumende, Mozambican High Commissioner to the UK and Hon Oldemiro Marques Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation for the Government of Mozambique and the Hon Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary of State for International Development, UK.

The conference was addressed by Mozambican government ministers such as Hon José Pacheco, Minister of Agriculture, Hon Esperanca Bias, Minister of Mineral Resources and Hon Paulo Zucula, Minister of Transport and Communications; members of the business community such as Salimo Abdula, President, Confederation of Business Associations (CTA), Eric Kohn, Chairman, Noventa Ltd, Graham Mascall, CEO, Ncondezi Coal Company and Guilherme Mambo, Member of the Board, MCNet; and members of the development community such as Peter Hesketh, Director, Sainsbury Foundation Charitable Trust and Andrew Reicher, Program Manager, Private Infrastructure Development Group. Sessions were chaired by amongst others, HE Sean Cleary, British High Commissioner to Mozambique, Paul Collier, Director, Centre for the Study of African Economies and Lord Mark Malloch Brown, Chairman, Royal African Society.The forum’s closing remarks were given by Baroness Lynda Chalker, Chairman, Africa Matters Ltd.

PROGRAMME
The UK-Mozambique Investment Forum 2010
One Whitehall, London: Thursday 2nd December 2010
9.00 –9.30
Registration and Refreshments

9.30 – 9.45
Opening of the Forum
Welcome and Introduction from HE António Gumende, Mozambican High Commissioner to the UK, and Keynote Addresses from Hon Oldemiro Marques Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Government of Mozambique and Hon Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary of State for International Development, UK

9.45 – 11.15
Session 1: Investing in Mozambique: Economic Outlook and Opportunity
Mozambique has achieved one of the highest and consistent year-on-year economic growth rates in Africa, as well as considerable success in controlling inflation and reforming the economy. With the increase in production and consumption, the country has witnessed some improvement on the trade imbalance. These strong economic indicators have encouraged increased foreign direct investment flows into the country, contributing to Mozambique’s rise in its fortunes in the Southern African region. The panellists will discuss the current investment climate and give brief introductions into the areas which Mozambique sees as driving its development, as well as explore the sectors that could appeal to the international investor as the country and the region move towards greater economic integration.
Chair: HE Shaun Cleary, British High Commissioner to Mozambique
• Hon Oldemiro Marques Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Government of Mozambique
• António de Abreu, Board Member, Central Bank of Mozambique
• Godinho Alves, Deputy Director-General, Investment Promotion Centre (CPI)
• Salimo Abdula, President, Confederation of Business Associations (CTA)
• Guilherme Mambo, Member of the Board, MCNet
Q & A session

11.15 – 11.45
Refreshments break

11.45 – 13.00   
Session 2: Investing in Key Sectors: Agribusiness and Tourism
Mozambique has a vast and growing local market for several crops as well as all the necessary physical attributes required to increase agricultural production and productivity for domestic consumption and for exports. There are an estimated 36 million hectares of arable land in Mozambique that can be said to enjoy good soils, climate, and good access to water. The opportunities for the would-be investor are plentiful, particularly in adding value to primary processing.

Mozambique has much to offer both visitors and investors as a tourist destination. Its long coastline has among the most stunning beaches on the African continent, with its sub-tropical islands, azure waters and unspoilt coral reefs. Fast growing tourist hotspots include the Bazaruto Arquipelago, Tofu and Vilankulos, though there are many other areas that equal or even surpass these hotspots in their natural beauty, and are as yet unexplored. Furthermore, Mozambique also has vast potential in its wild life and internationally recognised nature conservation areas such as the Gorongosa National Park and Limpopo National park, which shares a border with South Africa’s Kruger Park which, with the Gonezhou National Park, form one of the largest transnational parks in the world spanning three countries. This session explores the opportunities available and also presents key investments already underway and their successes.
Chair: Lord Richard Newby, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesman
• Hon José Pacheco, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Mozambique
• Keith Palmer, Chairman, AgDevCo
• Peter Hesketh, Director, Sainsbury Foundation Charitable Trust
• Hiuane Abacar, Mozambique Tourism Representative (UK), Ministry of Tourism, Government of Mozambique
• Trevor David Juul, President, CEO SBT Juul AFRICA / YPO/WPO doing business in Africa
Q & A session

13.00 – 14.00
Networking Lunch

14.00 – 15.30
Session 3: Investing in Key Sectors: Mining
Mozambique boasts significant mineral deposits with mining and quarrying accounting for around 2% of GDP. However, despite rapid growth in the mining sector over the past years, the country still has vast potential to expand. As a result, commercial interest in these sectors is ever-increasing and this session will outline and explore the means by which Mozambique is encouraging foreign investment in developing its fledging mining and thoughts from those who are already benefitting from this growing sector.
Chair: Professor Paul Collier, Director, Centre for the Study of African Economies
• Hon Esperanca Bias, Minister of Mineral Resources, Government of Mozambique
• Arsenio Mabote, President, National Institute for Oil (INP)
• Eric Kohn, Chairman, Noventa Ltd
• Tony McCluskey, Finance Director, Kenmare Resources
• Ben James, Managing Director, Baobab Resources
• Graham Mascall, CEO, Ncondezi Coal Company
Q & A session

15.30 – 16.00
Refreshments break

16.00 – 17.30
Session 4: Investing in Key Sectors: Infrastructure Development
Mozambique affords the would-be investor an enormous array of donor and government backed projects aimed at developing the infrastructure of the country. Mozambique is rich in potential energy sources; with its vast water supplies a source for large hydroelectric dams, its coal mines providing the coal for power stations, and the recent discovery of the Cabo Delgado offshore gas reserves. This session explores and highlights some of the vast number of such opportunities.
Chair: Lord Mark Malloch Brown, Chairman, Royal African Society
• Hon Paulo Zucula, Minister of Transport and Communications, Government of Mozambique
• Eng Pascoal Bacela, National Director for Electric Energy, Ministry of Energy
• Andrew Reicher, Program Manager, Private Infrastructure Development Group
• Godinho Alves, Deputy Director-General, Investment Promotion Centre (CPI)

17.30 - 17.45
Closing Remarks
• Baroness Lynda Chalker, Chairman, Africa Matters Limited;
• Hon José Pacheco, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Mozambique

17.45 - 19.00
Gala Reception