The seminar “Doing Business in Mozambique - Opportunities for Brazil”, held at the Polana Hotel in Maputo, brought together businesspeople, diplomats and authorities for a direct discussion on how to bring markets closer together, unlock projects and attract new investments. The Chairman of COTUR's Board of Directors, Dr. Noor-Momade, took part at the invitation of the Brazilian Embassy in Maputo and ApexBrasil, underlining the role of the private sector in boosting Portuguese-Atlantic economic relations.
Among the speakers were the Brazilian Ambassador to Mozambique, Ademar Seabra da Cruz Junior, the president of the CTA, Dr. Álvaro Massingue, and the former Minister of Planning and Development, Dr. Aiuba Cuereneia, among other personalities. The composition of the panel mirrored the meeting's agenda: economic diplomacy working with business associations and decision-makers with government experience to speed up decisions and provide predictability for investors.
Mozambique-Brazil proximity is historic and very relevant: in 2024 alone, Brazilian exports to Mozambique amounted to around US$ 37.8 million, according to official data aggregated by UN Comtrade; the Brazilian business presence in the country includes structuring investments, such as Vale's integrated mining-railroad-port project, valued at c. US$ 8 billion, one of the largest projects of Brazilian origin on the African continent. These figures help explain the focus on networking forums with a focus on results.
For COTUR, this connection with Brazil is fundamental: Brazil has been one of the most sought-after destinations for its client base for years, and the company maintains a permanent service with a local team to support travelers flying to Brazil and the rest of South America - from leisure to corporate. This presence on the ground makes it possible to shorten decision cycles and solve problems quickly, a critical factor for business travelers and investors.
For Dr. Noor-Momade, “this kind of networking brings the right people together and shortens paths. When we look at the data - for example, Brazilian exports to Mozambique were around US$ 37.8 million in 2024 - we realize that there is room to multiply this value with well-structured projects, from tourism to industry. COTUR wants to be a practical bridge between companies, institutions and travelers on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said on the sidelines of the seminar.
On a sectoral level, tourism and travel emerged as horizontal facilitators: they connect people, support commercial missions and make continued presence in the market feasible. On the business side, solutions were discussed to reduce travel costs, gain logistical predictability and increase traveler safety - areas where only operators with COTUR's local capacity offer immediate and indispensable solutions.
The presence of CTA figures and former planning officials reinforced the idea that cooperation has to be as political as it is technical: aligning incentives, clarifying procedures and sharing trade fair and mission calendars, including sector events in Mozambique and Brazil supported by organizations such as ApexBrasil.
In short, the meeting at Polana was not just an exchange of cards: it aligned expectations, identified priority dossiers and gave a clear signal of continuity.