The President of the Mozambique Stock Exchange (BVM) argues that the agro-tourism sector can catalyze and accelerate rural development, because it has the ability to exploit the synergies between the two economic areas and boost the other economic and social sectors.

Speaking at a round table discussion on the theme "Agro-Tourism: A New Business Area in Entrepreneurship in Mozambique", held in Maputo city, Salim Valá said that the development of the local economy can benefit from the adoption of an integrated approach that also includes manufacturing and dynamic domestic and cross-border trade.

"These areas acting in an integrated way can drive back poverty, reduce social inequalities, and generate quality jobs," he said.

In his speech, the PCA of Bolsa emphasized that agro-tourism initiatives were, on a global scale, important to explore the dormant economic potential in the territories, to integrate the activities of the population to the market, to valorize and monetize the local culture as well as to conserve the environment and fight the rural exodus.

 "There are good experiences of agro-tourism development in other parts of the world, such as the cases of Brazil, India, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Indonesia, among others, that can be learned from them, obviously with the proper adaptations," he stressed.

According to him, with about 66% of the population living and working in rural areas, and depending mostly on low-productivity agriculture, "it is essential that the country brings to the rural areas more capital, technologies, skilled people, and a more cross-cutting approach to dealing with economic issues."

"Throughout its extensive 2800-kilometer coastline there is immense potential to exploit the synergies between the various economic activities, promoting inclusive business from a social, sectoral, territorial and gender perspective," he stressed.

He also emphasized that agro-tourism projects are sensitive to women and youth, strengthen the role of SMEs, tap into local creativity, and are a fertile field for exercising the great entrepreneurs of the future.

The source also recognized the strategic importance of training and research institutions in the dissemination of technologies that allow for greater production and productivity, as well as the need to implement infrastructure to support business development.

"As BVM, we are available, given the nature and within the remit and competencies of the Exchange, to be part of the solution for financing agro-tourism projects, promoting rural entrepreneurs and being the platform for fostering inclusive and ethical business," he pointed out.