Official visit to Mozambique: Reception at the Fisheries Museum

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Boa tarde!

We have had a few fantastic days here in Maputo. It has been a great experience to be back in Mozambique, this beautiful country that was one of the first my wife and I visited as a married couple.

It has been encouraging to see the development your country has gone through in so many different areas over these last 18 years. I have learned a lot about about some of the challenges that you face and a lot about your promising future as well.

Mozambique and Norway have a long history of close cooperation, dating back to your country’s struggle for independence. I hope you had the chance to study the exhibition in the foyer on your way in. It gives a fascinating overview of the long and cordial history of our relations. My grandfather King Olav met your former president Samora Machel when President Machel paid an official visit to Norway as the first president of an independent Mozambique in 1977.

Over the years, the bilateral relationship between our countries has become broader and deeper. An overarching goal for our cooperation is to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The programme for my visit to Mozambique clearly reflects the broad scope of our relations.

If we are to reach the SDGs, all countries need access to energy. Today, I was privileged to share a very happy day in one particular family’s life, as their home in Matola got electricity for the first time. The "Energy for All" programme is truly impressive, and I am sure it will be a great success.

Like Norway, Mozambique has both hydropower and oil and gas resources. Mozambique has great potential to become a major player in the global energy market. The large revenue streams that will be generated from the offshore LNG field could change Mozambique dramatically. The next few years will be of vital importance to the development of a sustainably managed industry. We are honoured to be Mozambique’s partner in this endeavour.

The private sector has a key role to play in creating jobs and helping us to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. I am therefore very pleased that the private sectors in both our countries have spent the past few days looking for business opportunities together. According to my Norwegian business delegation, they are very happy with what they have achieved over these days. With the new connections they have made, the friendly people they have met, and the valuable exchange of perspectives.

Mozambique and Norway are both coastal countries. The oceans provide important livelihoods for our populations. Our peoples share a close connection to the sea, as well as deep concern over the fact that the oceans, along with our climate, are under threat. Yesterday, I met a group of schoolchildren who are doing their part to secure clean and healthy oceans. We have a lot to learn from them. Mozambique is playing a leadership role in the region to promote ocean sustainability. We are here today at the Fisheries Museum in Maputo to acknowledge this important work – and to learn more.

The Fisheries Museum is also an ideal venue for enjoying and sharing excellent sea food both from Mozambique and Norway, as seafood features prominently in both our countries’ rich culinary traditions.

Ladies and gentlemen,
In closing I would like to remind us all: Mozambique has immense potential. You have an abundance of natural resources, including metals, minerals, fertile soils and ocean-based resources, and you have a strong and resilient people, which of course is the most important key to development. Taking our long history of cooperation and broad partnership as a basis, Norway would like to work with you in realising this potential further.

Please join me in wishing well the relations between Mozambique and Norway!

Obrigado! Thank you!