Chinese entrepreneurs want to invest in Manica: grapefruit could be just the start – Mozambique

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Chinese entrepreneurs want to invest in Manica: grapefruit could be just the start – Mozambique

12:38 CAT | 16 May 2018

Notícias

A Chinese consortium called Jiangsu Huaxi Group is to invest more than 374 million meticais in grapefruit production in Manica province, consortium president Wu Xie’en revealed after a meeting with Manica governor Alberto Mondlane.

According to the Mr Wu, the project requires 2,000 hectares of land initially, but may expand later.

He said that Manica had excellent land for growing citrus, hence the consortium’s eagerness to invest in the province. In terms of time horizon, the project is designed for three years, after which evaluation would be made to see if it was worthwhile continuing.

Market analysis suggests the fruit would best be exported to Europe and China, where contacts have already shown that the product has a guaranteed market.

In addition to grapefruit production, the Chinese consortium plans to explore investment opportunities in the agrarian and mining sector, according to Mr Wu, who said that the grapefruit project was just the start of investments that the Chinese entrepreneurs foresee in Manica.

At the pair’s meeting, Govberner Mondlane outlined the potential of the province in various areas to investors, although he said to the press only that he was willing to support the investment and would speak at greater length after approval was granted.

Governor Mondlane did not disclose which districts would provide land for the project, but said that his executive had been working to attract investment to the province from both nationals and foreigners, as a way to promote economic development and create more jobs in the region.

Other members of Manica’s government linked to the mineral resources, industry and commerce, land, environment and rural development sectors participated in the meeting, as well as the provincial director of Agriculture and Food Security, Sónia Namahumbo.

By Victor Machirica

Source: Notícias