Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mozambique

FDI in Figures

Mozambique is an important destination for FDI in South-East Africa. The country recorded historically high FDI inflow levels in 2013, reaching more than USD 6 billion. According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2024, FDI inflows stood at USD 2.5 billion in 2023, in line with the level recorded one year earlier (2.45 billion). At the end of the same period, the total stock of inward FDI stood at USD 57.28 billion, around 268% of GDP. According to the Central Bank, FDI in Mozambique grew 44.7% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reaching USD 2.789 billion. This increase was driven by a 40.9% rise in FDI from large projects, particularly in the extractive industry, which accounted for 69.6% of total inflows. South Africa was the top investor, contributing 28% (USD 778 million), followed by Mauritius (26.4%, USD 735.5 million) and the Netherlands (26%, USD 725 million). The extractive industry remained the largest recipient, attracting USD 2.45 billion, with 75.4% of that going to oil and gas, which grew 58.6% year-on-year to USD 1.706 billion. The coal mining subsector saw an 11.2% increase, reaching USD 545.3 million.

The government has consistently implemented reforms, maintained sound economic policies, and put in place a privatization program for public companies to attract FDI. In addition to its abundant natural resources, the country's access to the sea provides a significant advantage compared to its landlocked neighbours. Mozambique has significant and varied natural resources (energy, mines, agriculture, forestry, and fishing), and its geographical location offers a serious advantage in the transportation field. On the other hand, poor governance, an unstable political and security environment, inadequate transport and port infrastructure, vulnerability to natural disasters, and the current sovereign debt crisis are the main factors hampering FDI. National authorities must approve all foreign and domestic investment, including guarantees and incentives. With a few exceptions, Mozambique's Investment Law and its regulations typically do not differentiate based on investor origin or restrict foreign ownership or control of companies. The "Mega-Projects Law" (No. 15/2011) mandates that 5 to 20% of the equity capital of public-private partnerships, large-scale ventures, and significant business concessions must be held by Mozambicans. The country ranks 128th among the 133 economies on the Global Innovation Index 2024 and 147th out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.

What to consider if you invest in Mozambique

Strong Points

Some of the reasons to invest in Mozambique are:

• a favourable geographic location, with its long coastline and the proximity to southern African markets
• the country's economic growth
• a young (65.48% of the population is under 25 years old - CIA World Factbook, est. 2020) and growing population
• good investment opportunities in infrastructure and the extraction of minerals (especially graphite, coal, and gemstones)
• the country's liquefied natural gas reserves (Mozambique is Africa’s third-largest holder LNG, with reserves of around 180 trillion cubic feet)
• the launch of "mega-projects" expected in several sectors (liquefied gas, infrastructure, etc.)
• very favourable business climate: Mozambique uses the unilateral method to avoid double taxation of income of resident and permanent non-resident companies

Weak Points

FDI investment has slowed dramatically since 2015, largely due to a drop in commodity prices (especially coal and aluminium) and slow negotiations in the development of hydrocarbon projects.
Among the factors that hinder FDI inflows there are:

• a fragile political situation and governance weaknesses
• overtasked judiciary system prone to being influenced by influential local interests
• public institutions have differing levels of enforcement and capacity to implement legislation
• lengthy registration procedures
• no private property rights on land: the government owns all land, privates can only lease
• lack of diversification, with a dependence on raw material prices (aluminium, coal)
• inadequate transport and port infrastructures limiting the country’s raw material export capacity.
• attacks in 2018 fueled a new terrorist threat in the country
• aid, grant and loan dependency

Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI

In 2017, the Mozambican government approved a new regulation to facilitate the obtention of visas for foreign nationals willing to invest in Mozambique. The measure reduced the minimum investment amount required from USD 50 million to USD 500,000 for an investment visa.
The Code of Fiscal Benefits contains specific incentives granted to entities that intend to invest in certain geographical areas in Mozambique that have natural resource potential, but which lack infrastructure and have low levels of economic activity. Mozambique counts seven free trade zones offering various tax exemptions based on the investment sector and the location of the project.
The Ministers Council merged the Investment Promotion Centre (CPI), the Office of Economic Zones for Accelerated Development (GAZEDA-Portuguese acronym), and the Institute for the Promotion of Exports (IPEX- Portuguese acronym), creating the Agency for Investment Promotion and Exports (APIEX in its Portuguese acronym).