Timber smuggling in Cabo Delgado province has been a source of illegal income, generating losses to the country of around 125 million meticais a month, according to recent reports. This illegal trade has devastating impacts on the environment and the local economy, and is one of the authorities’ concerns.
At the same time, there is an effort to train small and medium-sized companies in three of the country’s provinces – Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Tete – in management and personal initiative. It is believed that these companies will be able to offer services in the mega-projects to extract natural resources in these regions.
In the city of Tete, the Conecta Negócios pilot project has begun, financed by the World Bank, with the participation of sixty companies from various sectors. This project aims to eliminate the barriers that many national companies face when trying to supply services to mega-projects.
It is hoped that this initiative will not only empower local companies, but also help to reduce dependence on timber smuggling and promote more sustainable economic development in Cabo Delgado and the surrounding provinces.
