A Shared Journey

You were present when Qatar Airways inaugurated its Maputo-Doha service. How has the launch of that service signalled a new era of cooperation between Mozambique and Qatar?

One of the key bottlenecks in Africa is logistics. The operational cost of transporting merchandise from point A to point B, and the time that merchandise is held at ports and airports, create barriers to progress. Therefore, it is both comforting and strategically convenient that both intra-African connections and connections between Africa and other regions of the world have become more fluid. The importance of having seven international airline companies present in Mozambique is of course that it not only connects Mozambique to the world in terms of opportunities for developing businesses, but it also contributes to a reduction in the operational costs that Mozambique faces. Prior to the presence of Qatar Airlines in the country, in order to visit any country in the Middle East, we would first be obliged to fly to Europe. Today, we enjoy a direct route to Doha. The same thing happened for us in Central Africa. We formerly had to fly to Europe and from there back to Africa. Today, we travel there on Kenya Airways. Ethiopian Airways and South African Airways connect us with North Africa. The internal connections in Africa generate business dynamics, and the private sector in Africa already has strategic partners, reducing the operational cost of developing new businesses in Africa and increasing the productivity of private companies, because it takes less time for their employees to move around, and also expedited logistic operations. On the other hand, the Middle East has become a platform connecting the financial markets. For the investments that this region has made, and for the region’s capital accumulation arising from petroleum. And therefore, through Doha, we could establish a direct connection within a very short period of time. From Doha, we can connect to the rest of the Middle East and the Asian market.

What can Mozambique learn from the way that Qatar has used its natural gas reserves for economic growth?

President Guebuza visited Qatar at the invitation of the Emir. Qatar has opened itself to Mozambique and has passed much of its knowhow and knowledge regarding the oil and gas sector. A major part of our expertise in the oil and gas arena nowadays is due to openness, the transmission of know-how, and knowledge that Qatar has provided to Mozambique. We have a very good political and diplomatic relationship with Qatar, and these bonds have enabled us not only to gain knowledge about how Qatar has developed its economy from the oil and gas industry, but also created a direct connection through Qatar Airways from Maputo to Doha. In addition, many Mozambicans work in Qatar at the Mozal aluminum smelter. There are families of Mozambicans born in Qatar that went to work and had children there, who have enjoyed excellent conditions. Political and diplomatic relations between Mozambique, and Qatar will continue to bring the common objectives of the economic development of both nations to the fore.