Maputo, March 19, 2025 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) met today with the Delegation of the European Union in Mozambique to assess the progress of the PROMOVE Comércio Project. The meeting aimed to analyze the challenges faced, the progress achieved, and the future prospects of the project, which is nearing its final phase of implementation.
During the meeting, various factors impacting the execution of planned activities were discussed, including the political instability resulting from the legislative and presidential elections, which led to travel restrictions and affected the project’s implementation. The electoral period, marked by uncertainty and protests, led UNIDO to request a no-cost extension until April 2025 to ensure that project objectives could be met.
UNIDO highlighted that, despite the challenges, it has managed to maintain a 90% implementation rate of the planned activities. The lifting of the UN travel restrictions allowed the hiring of international consultants, who accelerated training sessions and capacity-building processes. However, climatic events, such as the recent Cyclone Jude, which struck Mozambique in early March 2025, affected the execution of some activities in the private sector, particularly in Nampula province.
Another key issue discussed was the impact of government changes on project implementation. With the new governmental structure introduced in January of this year, including the replacement of deputy ministers with secretaries of state, there are still uncertainties regarding decision-making processes and engagement with government institutions. UNIDO is closely monitoring the situation to adapt its implementation strategies as necessary.
Over the next five weeks, UNIDO will continue intensifying its efforts to achieve the goals of the PROMOVE Comércio project while mitigating the impacts of political and administrative challenges.
It is worth noting that the PROMOVE Comércio project aims to strengthen quality infrastructure, enhance the compliance capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises for exports, and improve governmental coordination on trade policies. As the project nears its conclusion, UNIDO and its partners remain committed to delivering tangible results for Mozambique’s economic development.
