VZCZCXRO6145
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0971/01 2441418
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011418Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0657
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0472
RUCLRFA/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000971
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/CBA DWINSTEAD
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP EINV ECON ETRD AMGT MZ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MAPUTO HOSTS U.S. INVESTOR CONFERENCE
REF: 08 MAPUTO 715
1. SUMMARY: In an environment of economic crisis, Mission
Maputo's State and USAID colleagues partnered to increase
investor interest in Mozambique's commercial opportunities,
drawing upon the Department of State's FY09 Business
Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) and joining efforts with
the USAID mission and regional representatives from the
Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) and Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS) to successfully hold a two-day Trade and
Investment Conference, July 15 and 16 in Maputo. The
outcomes highlight the impressive potential return for
American business from the USG's modest BFIF outlay. END
SUMMARY.
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U.S. MISSION'S LARGEST TRADE/INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
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2. In opening the conference on July 15, the Charge
addressed 180 participants, primarily from U.S. companies
with a presence in the region, describing commercial
opportunities in Mozambique, doing business in the country,
and the importance of building capacity for transformational
change through trade rather than aid, stating that
conferences like these allow U.S. companies to meet their
counterparts and "get down to business." Mozambican
President Armando Guebuza inaugurated the event, highlighting
the GRM's focus on attracting foreign investment, commenting
on our excellent diplomatic relations, and explaining that
the great distances between the United States and Mozambique
were shortened by the strength of the countries' cooperation
and friendship. Guebuza, who skipped a meeting of the
Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt in order to be present, was
joined by senior cabinet members, including Minister of
Commerce and Industry Antonio Fernando, Minister of Mineral
Resources Esperanca Bias, Minister of Energy Salvador
Namburete, Minister of Tourism Fernando Sumbana, and a senior
representative of the Minister of Agriculture. Corporate
Council on Africa's (CCA's) Ronald Langston also addressed
the audience in Maputo, outlining the entrepreneurial case
for investing in Africa.
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DELIVERABLES
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3. Deliverables from the conference include a planned
reverse agriculture Trade Mission in coordination with CCA,
three confirmed projects totaling more than $20 million in
new investment, new impetus for the formalization of the
status of Maputo's American Chamber of Commerce (CCMUSA),
additional planned informational DVCs for investors, and
greater international press focusing on Mozambique as an
investor destination. Participant survey results confirmed
that the high level of participation by Mozambican companies
and government officials in key areas of agriculture,
tourism, natural resources, and energy suggest that
Mozambique is serious about attracting additional U.S.
foreign investment.
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EXPENDITURES
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4. Post confirms that USD 4551.12 was spent against the BFIF
project budget of USD 6,750 for Mozambique for FY09, with USD
remaining 2198.88. Copies of receipts and other back-up
documentation have been faxed to EEB/EX. Below please find
specific fiscal information for each approved project.
Project: CS-State Regional Training and Strategic Planning
Program-Johannesburg
Amount of Grant: USD 1,750
Total Amount Liquidated: USD 1,742.91
USD 570.79 Airfare to Maputo/Johannesburg
USD 154.00 Transport by Personal Vehicle Maputo/JHB
USD 801.75 M (2)
USD 216.37 Taxi Fees (2)
Project: U.S. Trade and Investment Conference
Amount of Grant: USD 5,000
Total Amount Liquidated: USD 2,808.21
USD 520 Invitation cards with gold seal
USD 42 Invitation cards with envelopes
MAPUTO 00000971 002 OF 002
USD 472.32 U.S./Moz flag pins
USD 61.60 Transportation Costs
USD 875.75 Choir for the Mozambican Anthem
USD 177.40 Airport Fee to hang banner
USD 394.09 Printing of Welcome Kit Folders
USD 4.57 Receipt Books
USD 260.48 Cables for the projectors
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COMMENT: MAPUTO CONFERENCE GETS INVESTORS' ATTENTION
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5. While Post hosted a similar conference last year
(reftel), the 2009 iteration was more successful and
ambitious, with three new confirmed U.S. investments totaling
more than $20 million. Mission Maputo expects
post-conference buzz to generate a significant amount of
additional investor interest, particularly in the areas of
large-scale agriculture and forestry investments. This
successful trade and investment conference, and the
participation of the highest levels of the GRM confirm that
Mozambique is ready to "get down to business."
CHAPMAN