Maputo, March 24, 2021 – Beluluane Industrial Park and Free-trade Zone (BIP) hosted the online Workshop “SEZs: Drivers of Economic Growth and Sustainable Industrialization – The Mozambican Experience” in partnership with Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO) and with the contribution of Investment & Export Promotion Agency of Mozambique (APIEX), Federation of Mozambican Chambers of Commerce (FMCC) and the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA).
The event addressed the essential contributions of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to the growth and development of an economy, playing a critical role in accelerating industrialization, increasing development and growth, attracting targeted foreign direct investments and domestic investments, growing and diversifying value-added exports and ultimately building a regionally diversified industrial economy.
To debate this key topic, the online event hosted various specialists from prestigious institutions, such as BIP, AEZO, APIEX, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Onório Manuel, Beluluane Industrial Park General Manager, presented the Mozambican experience in the field of Economic Zones stating that “since 2000, more than US$ 3 billion have been invested in the Beluluane Industrial Park, which has allowed us to attract 42 companies from 17 different countries, generating 6,500 jobs. We are currently in the process of a nationwide expansion, creating industrial parks to support large anchor projects, ranging from extractives to food industry”.
The parks expansion plan together with the creation of Special Economic Zones will play a critical role in accelerating industrialization, which will contribute to the growth and development of the economy in different regions throughout the country.
Commenting on the BIP’s expansion plan and the expected economic boom in Mozambique in the coming years, Gregor Binkert, member of the Beluluane Industrial Park board of directors said “we are working on creating Special Economic Zones in areas where there are large scale extraction projects, and at the same time, working to increase local content, skills development, ensuring a positive impact on the local communities”.
With regards to investment plans to stimulate the country’s economic growth, Jaime Comiche, UNIDO Country Director for Mozambique, recommended a strategic approach to Industrial Policy where the public and private sectors, together identify and lift the restrictions that prevent the transformation of the industry. “The Beluluane Industrial Park & Free-trade Zone, which is already a good example of best practice of PPP, can become a magnet of know-how, technology transfer and normative support to inform the industrial policy” stated Jaime Comiche.
About AEZO
Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO) is a continental association consisting of leading public and private institutions in charge of the Development, Management and Promotion of Economic Zones in Africa.
Founded in November 2015 by Tanger Med, Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO) is striving to support African Economic Zones projects and strengthen relationships within its ecosystem with devoted focus on growth and prosperity.Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO) is guided by its strategic orientations to “foster collective knowledge sharing, provide strategic and technical assistance, connect with international business network and promote sustainable economic models and practices”.
AEZO is counting 80 members representing 45 countries.
Young qualified Mozambicans now have more opportunities to be linked to employers for internships through the recently launched partnership between Mimi Niko Kazi (MNK) youth employment programme and the Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) Programme.
The partnership was launched on Tuesday, March 16, during a ceremony held at Mozal in the presence of the Governor of Maputo, Julio Parrúque and Teresa Mauaie, Administrator of the Boane district.
About 230 youth across all regions in Mozambique will benefit from this partnership which also helps companies identify, train and recruit best skilled candidates; contributing towards better employment opportunities for the youth.
E4D is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the companies Quoniam Asset Management, Rio Tinto, Royal Dutch Shell, Sasol and Tullow Oil. It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Mimi Niko Kazi, which translates to “I am at work” in Swahili, has been managed by the Beluluane Industrial Park (BIP) since 2018 in Maputo Province and has already graduated more than 500 interns, of which over 50% have secured permanent jobs.
The aim of the programme is to connect qualified young Mozambicans to employers, while at the same time helping companies to identify, train and recruit the best skilled candidates. Since 2021, the programme has expanded its reach and now matches interns with employers across all regions of Mozambique.
Commenting on the new partnership with E4D, Beluluane Industrial Park General Manager, Onorio Boane, says “The Mimi Niko Kazi youth employment programme is starting a new phase, with a new brand and expanding from initially being a regional programme to a nationwide one, in line with our project to develop a network of industrial parks in Mozambique. We are tremendously proud to start this new phase with a partner such as E4D, that is willing to work with us to positively impact the lives of the Mozambican youth.”
From left to right: Onorio Boane, BIP General Manager, Ingmar Kreisl, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Maputo and the Governor of Maputo, Julio Parrúque
Programmes such as Mimi Niko Kazi play a pivotal role in the transfer of practical knowledge and skills to the young people in Mozambique and are an important bridge to employment.
“For youth in Mozambique the transition from education to employment is a huge and challenging step and missing practical experience is often one of the main barriers. A programme such as Mimi Niko Kazi provides opportunities to youth. At the same time, we also hope to increase the private sector’s awareness about the need to offer internships as an opportunity to learn on the job and a worthwhile investment in the future”, says Ingmar Kreisl, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Maputo.
Ingmar Kreisl, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Maputo
The Governor of Maputo, Julio Parrúque, praised the Mimi Niko Kazi programme and its partners for this great initiative that will help the province and the country in the ongoing fight against unemployment and poverty.
Governor of Maputo Julio Parrúque
According to the World Bank almost 500,000 people will enter Mozambique’s labor force each year over the next decade. Currently, 45% of the population is under the age of 15, and nearly two-thirds of the population is under the age of 25. The rapid addition of young people into Mozambique´s labor force is both an opportunity and a challenge. The Mimi Niko Kazi youth employment programme is a practical way to address this challenge.
Learn more about the MNK Programme: http://beluluane.co.mz/about-mimi-niko-kazi-programme/
Contact the programme manager Ashleigh Tsuro at mnk@beluluane.co.mz
