Portuguese companies to invest in Mozambique footwear industry

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Portuguese companies to invest in Mozambique footwear industry

2:54 CAT | 07 Mar 2016

Foha de Maputo (File photo)

A group of businessmen from Felgueiras, Portugal, has expressed an interest in starting a footwear industry in Mozambique.

The proposal came out of a meeting between entrepreneurs in Maputo on Friday organised by the Mozambican Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA).

Speaking to reporters, the vice president of Felgueiras municipality, João de Sousa, explained that about 60 percent of footwear produced in Portugal came from Felgueiras and that the establishment of a footwear factory in Mozambique using could produce good yields, given the demand for the product.

“We make most of the footwear produced in Portugal, and we can justify investing in Mozambique, but as you know, we must have turnover,” he said.

De Sousa said that cooperation need not be limited to the footwear sector, but that there were other potential areas like agriculture, civil construction and wine-making. Textiles were another possibility.

CTA vice president Prakash Prehlad supported the footwear industry proposal, saying that Mozambique had not sufficiently explored the sector. Prehad said that the setting up of a tannery for treating the leather required for footwear could attract more manufacturing also.

“Treating animal skins would be a good idea. The country has few facilities for this,” he said.

Prehad noted that Mozambique was very welcoming of Portuguese companies, with many already here and more than meeting expectations.

Source: AIM