Africa-Press – Mozambique. President Daniel Chapo begins this Saturday a six-day visit to the United States (US), with plans to meet US Vice-President JD Vance to strengthen bilateral relations, the Mozambican Presidency reported.
In a statement, the Presidency of the Republic said Daniel Chapo’s visit will run until 30 October and aims “to strengthen the relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries,” and he will be accompanied by three ministers and two secretaries of state.
It added that during the stay the Head of State will meet with Vice-President JD Vance “to exchange impressions on deepening the dialogue between the two countries and peoples, as well as strengthening bilateral relations.”
The Mozambican President will also hold meetings “with other US official entities and financial and development institutions,” with the agenda including participation in “business roundtables” in Washington and Houston, in the state of Texas, as well as a “fundraising gala for conservation actions.”
Daniel Chapo will also visit the headquarters of the US oil major ExxonMobil, which leads one of the three megaprojects planned to exploit natural gas in the Rovuma basin, northern Mozambique.
The Head of State will be accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Maria Manuela Lucas; of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estêvão Pale; and of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe; as well as by the Secretaries of State for Land and Environment, Gustavo Djedje, and for the Treasury, Amílcar Tivane. He will also be joined by the Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to the United States, Alfredo Nuvunga, staff from the Presidency of the Republic, and representatives from other State institutions.
The visit comes about a month after the administration of the US agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) announced the decision to continue the previously announced programme of US$500 million (about €422.2 million), to be financed in Mozambique, for connectivity and coastal resilience, following a review process.
According to information released on 18 September by the US Embassy in Maputo, following the External Assistance Review, the MCC board of directors met in August “and recommended advancing the Mozambique Coastal Connectivity and Resilience Compact.”
“This recommendation reflects continued confidence in the cooperation between the US and Mozambique, highlighting the commitment to generate tangible results for both peoples,” the statement said, adding that the programme “is fully aligned with US foreign policy priorities” and “aims to produce concrete benefits” for both peoples.
The funding, designated Compact II, was signed on 20 September 2023 at the Capitol in Washington, in the presence of the then Mozambican Head of State, Filipe Nyusi, during the previous US administration led by Joe Biden, which was succeeded by Republican Donald Trump.
It includes a new bridge over the Licungo River and a ring road in that coastal province in the centre, which has been affected by cyclones that have hit Mozambique in recent years, with no information provided on changes to the amount to be financed by the USA.
MCC–Mozambique had planned to launch at the beginning of this year the tender for the construction of the new bridge over the Licungo River and a ring road, according to an announcement reported last December by Lusa, which did not then take place.
The work involves the construction of a bridge 1,800 metres long, 5,000 metres downstream of the current crossing, as well as 16 kilometres of new access ring road to connect to the N1 Road at the crossing of the Licungo River, near Mocuba.
Zambézia province concentrates this MCC project of US$500 million (about €422.2 million) – an external aid agency funded by the US Government that provides grants to developing countries – in addition to the contribution of the Mozambican State of US$37.5 million (about €31.6 million).
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