Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo, who is on a two-day working visit to Rwanda, has called for a direct air connection between Mozambique and Rwanda to ease travel and enhance trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. He made the remarks on August 28 at the High-Level Business Leaders’ Roundtable held at Kigali Convention Centre, where he was accompanied by a ministerial delegation. ALSO READ: Kagame, Chapo hail good relations as Rwanda, Mozambique sign new agreements The roundtable brought together Rwanda’s top private sector leaders for direct engagement with President Chapo and his team, creating a platform to explore new avenues for bilateral trade and investment. Speaking at the roundtable, President Chapo said Africa faces challenges with air connectivity, often requiring travelers to route through Europe. “I want to take advantage of this opportunity, and I also said this yesterday, that there is a need to make an air connection between our two countries, which is a very important point,” he said. He described the roundtable as a continuation of strong ties between Mozambique and Rwanda, emphasizing shared goals for prosperity and sustainable development. ALSO READ: Who is Daniel Chapo, Mozambique's president visiting Rwanda? “We are two nations determined to transform our economies, to empower our citizens, especially the youth and women, and to strengthen our role on the African continent.” The Mozambican President noted key sectors for collaboration with Rwandan entrepreneurs, including agriculture and agro-processing, energy and natural resources, logistics and connectivity, industry and value addition, as well as tourism and the blue economy. “Together, we can build complementary partnerships: Rwanda as a hub of innovation and services, and Mozambique as a hub of energy and natural resources,” he added. President Chapo also underlined the role of governments in enabling the private sector, encouraging entrepreneurs from both countries to collaborate, create jobs, and build African industries. ALSO READ: Rwanda-Mozambique ties evolve from security to multi-sector cooperation “For businesswomen, we invite you to look at Mozambique as a strategic partner for Africa. We will build joint ventures, explore industrial areas, share experience in urban management, and expand cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, energy, logistics, services, and digitization.” “Our vision is a partnership where everyone wins, where young people find jobs, our economies diversify, and our nations grow stronger in Africa and the world,” he said. Jean Guy Afrika, CEO of RDB, said the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding with Mozambique’s investment agency which took place on August 27, was a key highlight among agreements covering finance, defence, justice, agriculture, education, and the environment. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Mozambique ink trade, investment pact “The MoU places the private sector at the centre through the creation of a joint working group to ensure rapid translation of commitments into action.” Afrika also emphasised opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, construction, logistics, and energy, noting the potential for joint ventures and learning from each country’s business ecosystem. “By sharing experiences in building competitive enterprises, expanding regional value chains, and attracting investors, our firms can scale faster and more effectively in continental and global markets,” he said. He added that RDB, working closely with Mozambique’s Agency for Promotion of Investments and Exports, remains committed to facilitating business growth, providing policy support, and creating an enabling environment for private sector collaboration.
