Africa-Press – Botswana. The European Union (EU) yesterday approved the provision of 15 million euros to militarily support the mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to Mozambique (SAMIM), coinciding with the visit of the head of diplomacy of the European bloc, Josep Borrell, to Maputo.
The grant was approved by the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) after the Council’s endorsement in April of a general program to support the African Union in 2022-2024 under the European Peace Facility.
The 15 million euros, according to a statement, will finance the military component of SAMIM, namely field fortifications and storage containers, medical equipment, vehicles and boats, as well as technological devices.
This tranche complements an amount of €89 million in funding for the Mozambican Armed Forces to equip the units that are trained by the EU mission in the country.
The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, began a two-day visit to Mozambique yesterday, having already met with the President, Filipe Nyusi. For today, he plans to deliver non-war equipment to support the anti-terrorist fight in Cabo Delgado.
The Political and Security Committee is responsible for the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defense policy of the EU.
Partnership “Success”
Mozambique and the European Union (EU) yesterday celebrated the “success” of the partnership between the two parties, said the Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, in Maputo, alongside the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The success of our partnership was highlighted, which results from a regular, comprehensive and balanced dialogue”, said the minister, at the end of a meeting between the high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and European Security Policy and the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi. .
“Relationships are excellent, robust and lasting”, he said, in balance.
The meeting marked the beginning of Borrell’s two-day visit to Mozambique.
As the largest per capita recipient of European aid in Africa, Mozambique has several open files with Brussels, which have been reviewed, especially Cabo Delgado. Borrell announced additional support of 15 million euros for the African military mission in Cabo Delgado, the scene of armed conflicts for five years, and said he hopes to also support the Rwandan contingent.
According to Verónica Macamo, “the latest developments” regarding the conflict were analyzed and Borrell lamented the six deaths caused since Saturday in the most recent wave of armed attacks in northern Mozambique, including the death of an Italian missionary.
On the occasion, he added that the solution to peace is not just a military one, but must also be based on promoting the development and well-being of the population, areas that the EU also supports.
Investors praise visa regime changes
Investors interviewed by Lusa in Maputo yesterday considered the change introduced in the tourism and business visa regime in Mozambique to be “extraordinary”, believing that the innovations will create “benefits” for the business and economic environment in the country.
Among the novelties, the Mozambican authorities are testing the electronic visa, which can be obtained via the Internet (as is already the case in other countries), with a view to facilitating the entry of tourists and businesspeople into the country.
“It is an extraordinary change”, said Quessanias Matsombe, operator in the hotel sector in Mozambique and former association leader in the sector.
The increase in the term of the tourist visa from 30 to 90 days and the fact that it is now mixed, giving the possibility of doing business, “is very good”, he said.
Another far-reaching innovation, he continued, is the introduction of the electronic visa, as it will allow any foreigner to apply for entry into Mozambique, from anywhere in the world, even if there is no Embassy or consulate in the African country nearby.
“The ‘online’ visa would be the solution” when entering Mozambique, he said, adding that this model ensures more direct revenue for the state coffers.
“The person will deal with the system, with the platform, they will not have a relationship with any person and even to pay they will use a debit card”, he pointed out.
The money goes directly into the state coffers and there is no room for “refreshment”, the word used by civil servants to demand bribes.
That businessman in the hotel sector defended that innovations must be accompanied by changes in the behavior of State officials. Because tourists and foreign investors are “an asset” to the country’s economy and not a source of illicit income, he said.
For his part, Noor Momade, president of the Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators of Mozambique (Avitum), defended that the changes in the visa regime and stay of foreigners in the country are “an important lever” for tourism and business, a since they will “speed up” the flow of foreigners and investors.
“We were behind many countries in attracting tourists and investors, but with these important advances, barriers to the entry of people who are welcome in Mozambique were removed, because of the added value they bring”, defended Momade.
The ease of granting visas and the permanence of foreigners is a comparative advantage for countries that intend to boost tourism and foreign investment, he said.
“The first assessment that a tourist or investor makes to decide whether or not to go to a country is the visa regime and stay in the territory”, he highlighted.
Alison Briggs, senior manager of Grindrod, a South African group that participates in the management of the Port of Maputo, also believes that the new visa regime will bring “enormous benefits”.
The visa policy changes are part of the 20 measures announced in August by the Mozambican Head of State as part of the Economic Acceleration Stimulus Package (PAE).
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