Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Mozambican government on Tuesday banned the import of items deemed as non-essential, in order to avoid squandering the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Speaking to reporters in Maputo, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), the government spokesperson and Minister of State Administration, Inocencio Impissa, said the items concerned include bottled mineral water, pasta, Portland cement, maize flour, salt and tiles.
Most of these goods are easily available from local suppliers, and so do need to be imported. Impissa said that the new restrictions will ensure the priority allocation of foreign exchange to the import of essential goods and services, and will make emerging Mozambican industries more competitive.
The government, said the Minister, is committed to import substitution and stimulating national production.
The list made public by the Ministry of Economy on Wednesday on its official Facebook page reads as follows:
1 – Carnes e miudezas comestíveis de aves | Edible poultry meat and offal;
2 – Arroz (não acondicionado para venda a retalho) | Rice (not packaged for retail sale);
3 – Açúcar (não acondicionado para venda a retalho) | Sugar (not packaged for retail sale);
4 – Óleo de palma alimentar refinado | Refined edible palm oil;
5 – Água engarrafada e bebidas gaseificadas | Bottled water and carbonated drinks;
6 – Massas alimentícias | Pasta;
7 – Sal e cloreto de sódio | Salt and sodium chloride;
8 – Cimento Portland | Portland cement;
9 – Tijoleira | Tiles;
10 – Farinha de milho | Maize flour;
11 – Bebidas alcoólicas (cerveja) | Alcoholic beverages (beer);
12 – Mobiliário de madeira e metálico | Wooden and metal furniture;
13 – Produtos de papel e papelão | Paper and cardboard products;
14 – Bebidas não alcoólicas e refrigerantes | Non-alcoholic beverages and soft drinks;
15 – Trigo em pão | Wheat in bread;
16 – Milho em pão | Maize in bread.
Duration of the measure (applicable to all 16 items): Até nova comunicação / Until further notice.
