Holger Hey, representative of the German-Southern African Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mozambique, highlighted in an interview with Profile, held on the sidelines of the Bilateral Conference between the two countries in Maputo, the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the strategic opportunities in the port infrastructure and energy sectors.
Holger stressed how these areas can play a crucial role in the sustainable growth of both Mozambique and Germany.
Profile Mozambique: How does the German-Southern African Chamber of Commerce and Industry intend to ensure that these partnerships with German companies directly benefit Mozambique’s economic development?
Holger Hey: Our aim is to foster economic exchange between Germany and Mozambique, promoting both the entry of German investments into Mozambique and the expansion of Mozambican businesses in Germany.
To this end, we organized a High-Level Conference supported by the German government, through the Ministry of Economy, which brought to the country seven German companies specializing in port infrastructure, associated technologies, energy systems and logistics. These companies came to Mozambique for the first time to explore the opportunities offered by the local market. We know that the Port of Maputo, for example, has seen growth of between 20% and 30% in the last two years, and other ports in the country also play strategic roles in the context of the East African continent, especially considering Mozambique’s geostrategic location.
It is important to stress that Mozambique is taking an innovative approach to development, and we, with our German technologies and facilities, are eager to collaborate, seeking partnerships that will allow us to integrate and contribute to this progress. Our aim is to work together, aligning efforts to promote the sustainable development of both countries.
PM: How many companies, including SMEs, are taking part in the Germany-Mozambique Bilateral Port Infrastructure Conference and how can this forum strengthen economic relations between the two countries and boost strategic investments in the sector?
HH: In this specific context, we are carrying out a technical trip involving seven medium-sized German companies, all of them brands with international repercussions. These companies are in Mozambique for a week-long visit, during which we have already visited the ports of Maputo, including the container port managed by DP World. We will also be visiting MozParks, a significant initiative with the participation of the Mozambican government. These are economic development zones and free zones, which present attractive opportunities for potential German investments.
During this visit, we will explore logistics systems and decentralized energy installations, such as a photovoltaic plant installed in one of Matola’s shopping centers, a project implemented by a small German company. In addition, we will visit the Zimpeto National Stadium, especially relevant given the recent triumph of Mozambique’s national team over Guinea-Bissau.
This initiative combines elements of a technical trip with a major conference, such as the one taking place today, the first Bilateral Port Infrastructure Conference between Germany and Mozambique. This event has the participation of the Mozambican government, APIEX, port entities, relevant associations, and a solid partnership with the Mozambican Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, the forum also attracted consultants and potential joint venture partners, including German companies already established in the country, totaling around 100 participants.
The aim is for this event to have considerable repercussions, and at the same time we want to show the Germans the Mozambican culture and mentality, highlighting that the country has a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, with an agile and competent youth, ready to collaborate in the development of infrastructure, innovation and knowledge transfer. This is a comprehensive dialog, without fear of language barriers, including Portuguese, Xichangana and the other national languages.
PM: Considering your experience, how can bilateral events help to change the perception of Mozambique in Germany and attract more investment to the country?
HH: There is a huge potential that is often not even recognized in Mozambique. There is already a significant presence of German companies in the country, operating in various markets, such as DHL, one of the largest logistics companies in the world, which is German and has a strong presence in Mozambique, both in the ports and in the interior of the country. Mozambique’s ports are therefore strategic because they handle agricultural products, technology and other goods from neighboring countries that depend on these infrastructures to export their products.
This logistics already has a touch of “Made in Germany” about it. In addition to DHL, DB Schenker is also present in the Mozambican market, and there are other German initiatives underway, such as solar energy solutions and strong cooperation with GIZ, which works on decentralized energy systems, especially for agriculture.
Although there is significant activity, it is still insufficient given the enormous growth potential that Mozambique has. In this case, our intention is to intensify this bilateral cooperation, promoting greater German participation in this successful path. However, little is known in Germany about the opportunities that Mozambique offers.
That’s why events like this are fundamental to changing the narrative about Mozambique in Germany and Europe, where, unfortunately, the perception is often negative or non-existent. If we tell the true story of Mozambique, countless opportunities will arise. Problems exist everywhere, not just here.
PM: How can the partnership between Mozambican and German companies promote the development of local content, allowing SMEs to benefit from the various opportunities presented?
HH: By the way, we had the President of the Local Content Association of Mozambique (ACLM) present at one of the sessions of this conference, Elthon Chemane.
And in fact, local content is very important for the country, for the development of industrialization in the country, once again to bring Mozambican youth to participate in this wave that I hope will be many of development and success and economic growth. So local content is a component that we can’t forget, and that we want to convey at this event to potential German investors, so that they can also think about solutions in this area.
By training people, you can get them involved, you can win them over to participate in the real economic and work activities here, which we call doing, who does it here. But there are many solutions that already exist in Mozambique that can be included in a profile of technological development or the bringing in of new German technologies. They don’t come on their own.
We talked a lot at this event about a word that is very important, which is partnership. We didn’t come here to do things, we came here to work in partnership with organizations, with companies, including small and medium-sized Mozambican companies, because it’s related. The DNA of small and medium-sized Mozambican companies is the same as the German DNA.
The German economy isn’t just Mercedes and Siemens, we’re very proud to have them, but the German DNA is also small and medium-sized businesses. So let’s interact, let’s talk about it, eye to eye, at the same time and try to grow together.
PM: How does Germany intend to position itself to participate in future port developments in Mozambique, such as the possible creation of a PORTOCEL in Maputo?
HH: During our recent visit to the Port of Maputo, we had the opportunity to learn in depth about the operations and plans underway, which are really impressive.
We know that there is a master plan for the development of the Port of Maputo, including public-private partnerships (PPP) and the expansion of container operations by DP World. However, it is possible that plans for a project like PORTOCEL are being considered.
Although I can’t give a definitive answer on the creation of a PORTOCEL in Maputo, what I can say is that we are here to strengthen the German presence in the Mozambican market. And our great commitment is to ensure that, when the opportunity arises for a venture of this magnitude, the dialogue with Germany is already established, allowing our participation from the outset in a development of this size.
