Maputo, Nov. 3, 2025 (Lusa) - Mozambique's government intends to settle 1.5 billion meticais (€20.2 million) in debts owed to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and exempt those that were unable to pay contributions due to the post-election demonstrations from penalties.
In the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (Prece), approved by the government and recently made available by the Ministry of Finance, there is a section titled "payment of the state's debt to suppliers".
"It is estimated that 1.5 billion meticais will be paid to SMEs that supply goods and services to the state," reads the document, consulted today by Lusa.
On 29 October in Maputo, Finance Minister Carla Loveira acknowledged the "difficulties associated with the state's debts to suppliers of goods and services", but said that the government "remains committed to the gradual, responsible and transparent settlement of these obligations, saying that there is predictability and trust in relations with the private sector".
He also called for the definition of a "debt payment strategy for suppliers, the strengthening of budgetary control mechanisms, reconciliation of accounts, scheduling and prioritisation of payments".
"Exempting from penalties all companies that, because of the demonstrations, have been unable to fulfil certain social security obligations" is another measure included in the Prece.
The document recognises that "despite the legal obligation to remit contributions to the Social Security System, taxpayers and self-employed workers are not always able to meet their obligations", due "above all to the economic and financial difficulties that have affected the country's entire productive sector in recent years, as a result of the domestic and international economic situation, throwing thousands of workers out of work".
"And consequently, without proper social protection," he notes.
The government intends to mobilise 2,750 million dollars (€2.368 billion) in the short and medium term to stimulate the economy, particularly in the face of the effects of climate change and political instability, according to Prece.
The plan aims to "improve the competitiveness of national airports and logistics corridors", to "ensure an increase in the flow of people and the volume of goods travelling to or through Mozambique", to strengthen the sector's contribution to the economy.
"Procedures aimed at improving efficiency at the main border crossings will be simplified. In this case, the concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Industrial Free Trade Zones will be reformulated, adjusting them and establishing them in an integrated manner with the development corridors."
In logistics, the aim is to "implement maritime cabotage as a policy to encourage coastal shipping, to relieve pressure on roads and reduce logistics costs".
"Creation of multimodal logistics zones in strategically located areas to facilitate the efficient flow of goods and optimise cargo handling, connecting different modes under a single operator or system. In this regard, the government will identify at least three zones," it reads.
It also intends to "stimulate local production of goods purchased on a large scale by the state", for the "industrialisation of the country".
"This change from a paradigm of state purchases focused on large, long-term transactions aims to encourage the industrialisation of the country, which will result in more quality national jobs," the document states, assuming that all "food products consumed by the state will be announced, with an emphasis on the Defence and Security Forces, hospitals, boarding schools, and introducing a requirement for them to be of local origin."
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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