Mozambique in the spotlight at Expo Osaka in Japan
Business People: CTA and Portuguese embassy discuss visa facilitation in Maputo
12:42 CAT | 16 Aug 2017
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The Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique (CTA) is calling for the speedy simplification of the Portuguese visa application process, with the aim of facilitating trade between the two countries.
Mozambican citizens’ need for visas in order to do business in Portugal and vice versa has been a topic of debate at all levels, reports AIM MOçambique.
CTA chairman Agostinho Vuma yesterday expressed the desire to see the visas facilitated as soon as possible to the Portuguese ambassador in Mozambique, Maria Paiva at a meeting with the association’s board of directors.
The CTA informed the ambassador of the difficulties experienced in obtaining visas for Portugal, which hinder business contacts and reduce turnover year after year.
“The visa matter is quite important. The Mozambican government has already facilitated its entry visa and we hope this will put pressure on the Portuguese side and result in visa facilitation for the sake of harmony between the two countries,” CTA spokesman Faisal Sidat told reporters at the end of the meeting.
Ambassador Paiva acknowledged the difficulties faced by Mozambicans in obtaining visas, and promised that the issue would continue to be discussed in the coming times.
“The facilitation of visas is a topic that we will continue to talk about. It is on the agenda of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). Portugal has been raising this theme in the most recent meetings of the CPLP. It is something we have to do with our CPLP partners,” she said.
The ambassador expressed confidence in the future of the business exchange between the two countries, saying that she was certain that mechanisms would be found to help facilitate trade and investment, the movement of people and goods between the countries of the Community.
“The subject is on the table, it’s starting to be debated. I’m sure it will come to a successful conclusion,” she said.
The meeting, called to discuss matters related to the professionalisation of CTA sectors and the best form of cooperation in institutional support, was considered productive.
In addition to visas, the two parties also addressed concerns related to agribusiness, tourism, energy, construction and industrialisation among others, and committed to addressing matters in more depth in the coming months.
The Portuguese ambassador was accompanied by the representative of the Portuguese Agency for Foreign Investment and Trade, AICEP.
Source: AIM Moçambique
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