The Mozambican government has initialed a partnership agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the disbursement of about 72 million dollars to finance rural entrepreneurs over the next six years.

This is an initiative to support poor families in rural areas involved in agribusiness, especially in agriculture, fishing, and related services.

The information was advanced recently in Matutuíne district, Maputo province, by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Carlos Mesquita, in the seminar on business connections in the scope of local content.

According to Carlos Mesquita, the Government is mobilizing support from cooperation partners to finance several actions to promote micro, small, and medium-sized companies.

"In the coming months, the government will implement further actions focusing on the local content development project for young and women entrepreneurs, to be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB)," he said.

The governor explained that the initiative aims to provide technical assistance and support for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, in the scope of qualification and certification to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the implementation of large projects in the provinces of Maputo and Cabo Delgado.

The minister pointed out that several activities were carried out as part of the materialization of the support measures for the recovery and competitive modernization of entrepreneurs from companies led by young people and women, especially those in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

"It is our big bet and governance commitment to increase the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises to participate in local content, associated with the business exploration of large companies in Mozambique," said Carlos Mesquita.

For the Matutuine district in particular, the Government has programmed to support and promote the entrepreneurial links of small businesses in the tourism chain and with large companies. Therefore, in the course of the event, topics such as business opportunities in the tourism industry and cross-border trade for local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; the role of corporate responsibility of large companies for local businesses; and financing solutions were discussed.