Matsumiya said that Japan has been following a policy of seeking to build “win-win” relations for the development of mineral projects under way in Mozambique. That is why, he added, “we have also made proposals for staff training and to support the construction of the necessary infrastructures”.
Matsumiya, who is heading a delegation including senior officials from his ministry and representatives of private business, was speaking to reporters after an audience granted by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza.
The delegation is in Maputo to discuss projects under way in the mineral resources area, particularly the exploitation of natural gas and of coking coal.
Matsumiya believed that the relationship between Mozambique and Japan could be of mutual benefit “because Mozambique has great potential to exploit and huge reserves of minerals, while Japan possesses technological resources, but lacks minerals”.
Among the Japanese companies operating in Mozambique is Mitsui, which is part of the consortium headed by the US hydrocarbon company Anadarko, exploring for natural gas in the Rovuma Basin, off the coast of the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Mitsui has a 20 per cent stake in the Rovuma Basin Offshore Area 1.
Another large Japanese corporation, Mitsubishi, owns 25 per cent of Mozambique’s largest factory, the Mozal aluminium smelter on the outskirts of Maputo.
Post published in: Africa News