High Commission of India

Maputo, Mozambique

High Commission of India
Maputo

India-Mozambique Bilateral Relations

India enjoys warm, friendly and substantive ties with Mozambique. Trade links between Mozambique and the western states of India go back to several centuries, and pre-date the colonial era. These ancient people-to-people links have been built upon in modern times to forge a strong bilateral relationship based on regular political contacts, ever-deepening economic engagement, and a well-integrated Indian community in Mozambique.

Political Relations

After 1947, independent India’s support for the Mozambican freedom struggle established the basis for warm political ties between the leaderships of both countries. Diplomatic relations between India and Mozambique were established as soon as Mozambique became independent in 1975, and India was among the first countries to set up a diplomatic mission in Mozambique. Mozambique opened its Mission in New Delhi in 2001.

Exchange of visits: Since the independence of Mozambique, there have been frequent contacts between the leaderships of both countries. All four Mozambican Presidents have visited India: President Samora Machel in April 1982, President Joaquim Chissano in May 1988 and again in May 2003, President Armando Guebuza September-October 2010, Prime Minister Aires Ali in March 2011 and President Filipe Nyusi in August 2015. From the Indian side, then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited Maputo in August 1982 and Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Mozambique in July 2016. 

From India to Mozambique:  At Annexure-I

From Mozambique to India: At Annexure-II

Visit of Indian Naval ships: At Annexure-III

Mozambique and India have signed several bilateral agreements and MoUs for collaboration in diverse sectors covering agriculture, rural development, scientific and technical research, protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation, small and medium enterprises, mineral resources, oil and natural gas, defence and maritime security, Mutual Recognition of Vaccine Certificate, etc.

India’s development partnership with Mozambique

In recent years, India’s support for Mozambique’s development agenda has become an important priority under a vibrant, robust and versatile bilateral relationship between both countries. Most of this assistance has been provided through concessional Lines of Credit (LOC) implemented through EXIM Bank of India. Until 2010, India had carried out LOC-funded projects worth about USD 140 million in Mozambique. During President Guebuza’s visit to India in 2010, further LOC support of USD 500 million was announced. By implementing projects under its concessional LoCs, India has extended support to Mozambique in diverse areas - provision of drinking water, improving power generation and distribution, improving agricultural productivity, rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, creation of an Information Technology park, construction of an assembly plant for solar cells, rehabilitation of road networks, construction of housing units, railway equipment etc.

The most visible and appreciated form of development partnership extended by India to Mozambique is in the form of scholarships and training opportunities in India. The number of Indian scholarships available for Mozambican students to pursue Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies in India has been steadily increased in recent years. In addition, Government of India sponsors a large number of short-term training courses, particularly for public functionaries working in the Mozambique Government. These educational and training scholarships have not only helped improve human resources within Mozambique but have also helped to strengthen people-to-people linkages between both countries.

In the aftermath of Cyclone IDAI in March 2019, Government of India had deployed three Indian naval ships to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the affected people in the Beira province of Mozambique. Raksha Mantri during his visit to Mozambique in March 2019, had handed over two fast interceptor boats to Mozambican Navy to boost maritime security of a friendly country and strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between two countries. GOI also subsequently donated 30 communication sets to the Mozambican Government.  The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari visited Maputo in December 2021 and delivered a huge consignment of Government of India’s assistance package to Mozambique comprising of 500 MT of rice, two fast speed interceptor boats, military equipment as also other useful military accessories.  INS Sujata visited Maputo during 19-21 March 2023.

Some recent examples of Indian development and humanitarian assistance to Mozambique include USD 250 million LoC which was re-offered to Mozambique in 2019 for improving the quality of electricity in Maputo and adjoining areas for which the LOC agreement was signed in August 2020. In September 2020, India handed over 13 essential medicines worth 22 million Meticais to Mozambique to combat and prevent COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2021, Government of India donated 100,000 doses and supplied over 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine under COVAX programme to Mozambique.

In February, 2022, India and Mozambique signed a MoU for implementation of a Drinking Water Project at the Mueda District under Government of India’s grant assistance of US $ 10 million. The project would be implemented shortly. In June 2022, India also donated a consignment of Covid-19 related assistance package comprising of PPE kits and face masks to Mozambique besides 2 Mahindra SUVs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique. 

Economic Relations

In recent years, India-Mozambique economic relations have steadily deepened and expanded mainly through greater involvement of Indian companies that have invested heavily in the energy resources of Mozambique. By some estimates these investments amount to almost a quarter of India’s total FDIs in Africa. The most important investments have been in the natural gas and coal industries. In 2014, two Indian Public Sector Companies, ONGC Videsh Ltd. and Oil India Ltd. completed the acquisition of 20% stake in Area 1 of the Rovuma gas block of Mozambique, at a cost of over USD 5 billion. This was in addition to 10% already held by another Indian PSU, BPRL since 2008, thus making India, the biggest investor in the Rovuma Area-1 gas project that is being operated by the French petroleum giant, TOTAL Energies that has 26% stakes in the project. 

In the coal mining sector, in July 2014, International Coal Ventures Private Ltd, a consortium of five Indian PSUs (SAIL, NMDC, RISL, CIL and NTPC) purchased a 65% stake in the coal assets sold by Rio Tinto. Other Indian companies with presence in the coal mining sector of Mozambique include JSPL, JSW, Coal India Ltd, Tata Steel, Essar, Midwest Africa, Sunflag group, etc. Vulcan, a fully owned subsidiary of the Jindal Group, acquired the Moatize coal mining asset and the 920-km Nacala Logistical Corridor from the Brazilian mining giant, Vale, in December 2021. The mine has an annual production capacity of 20 million MT of coal per year.

Indian investments in sectors other than mining include Godrej group’s interest in hair & beauty products in Matola, and investments in commercial agriculture by companies like Pure Diets, Rajarambapu Group, and Asian Tea Company. Indian companies are present in automobile sector like Tata and Mahindra. There is increasing interest by Indian companies to invest in newer sectors of Mozambique, including healthcare, education, electricity, information technology, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Apart from investment, bilateral trade between India and Mozambique has also been rapidly growing in recent years. The value of trade between the two countries grew five-fold between 2010 and 2015, to reach a peak of USD 2.4 billion dollars in 2014-15. The subsequent slowdown in the world commodity market caused a dip in the trade values in 2015-16 and 2016- 17 to about USD 1.5 billion dollars. In 2019-20 total trade between two countries again increased to 2.17 billion US dollars which was again followed by a dip due to Covid-19 pandemic to 1.23 billion dollars in 2020-21. However, it has again picked up in the post pandemic period to reach nearly 2 billion dollars in 2021-22.  The most important exports from India to Mozambique are refined petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, machinery etc., whereas coking coal, cashew and raw agri products are the leading Mozambican exports to India. There is active and regular exchange between Mozambican and Indian Chambers of Industry. Businessmen of both countries participate in trade fairs and commercial events organized in each other’s countries.

                                                                                  Value: Million US$, DGCIS 

Source: DGCIS

India’s exports to Mozambique comprises mainly of Petroleum products, Engineering goods, Pharmaceuticals, Rice, Fabrics, Bicycles, Machinery, Ceramic products and Glassware, Plastic and Linoleum.  Major item-wise imports from India over the last few years and their associated changes in percentage terms are as follows:

Source: DGCIS

The contribution of India’s exports to total global imports of Mozambique are as follows:

Source: National Institute of Statistics of Mozambique

Community and Cultural Relations

Almost 20,000 Mozambican nationals trace their ancestry to India. Most of them are from the western Indian states of Gujarat, Goa, Daman& Diu. The Indian diaspora is mostly engaged in wholesale and retail trade in Mozambique, where it has made a strong and dominant mark. The Indian community of Mozambique is well integrated into the local economy and society and is contributing to the creation of wealth and employment in Mozambique. It has also preserved its cultural roots from India. In addition, there are around 3000 Indian nationals in the country engaged in various Indian companies or working as professionals in Mozambican companies. There are several community associations of the Indian community, which regularly organize charitable and cultural events. 

April 2023

ANNEXURE  I

Exchange of visits- From India to Mozambique:

• MoS for External Affairs Shri Salman Khurshid in January 1994;

• External Affairs Minister Shri Jaswant Singh in March 1999;

• MoS for External Affairs Shri Digvijay Singh in December 2002;

• Minister of Labour Shri Saheb Singh Verma in April 2003

• MoS for External Affairs Shri Anand Sharma in July 2007; ? 

• Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Shri Vayalar Ravi in November 2007; ? 

• MOS for External Affairs Dr Shashi Tharoor in January 2010; ? 

• External Affairs Minister Shri SM Krishna in July 2010; ? 

• MOS for Coal Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal in January 2011; ? 

• MOS for Agriculture & Food Processing Shri Arun Yadav in May 2011; ?

• MOS for Home Affairs Shri Mullappally Ramachandran in July 2012; ? 

• Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles, Shri Anand Sharma in September 2012. ? 

• MOS for Coal, Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil on October 26-28, 2012. ? 

• MOS for External Affairs, Smt Preneet Kaur on 3-6 July, 2013;

• Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Anand Sharma on 27-28 September, 2013;

• MoS for External Affairs, Gen, Retd. V K Singh visited Maputo as a Special Envoy of PM to invite President Nyusi for IAFS III in July 2015. 

• MoS for External Affairs, Gen, Retd. V K Singh again visited Mozambique in February 2018 to review the progress of the decisions taken during PM’s visit to Mozambique in July 2016;

• Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh, visited Maputo in July 2019;

• MoS for External Affairs, Shri V. Murleedharan, visited Mozambique from 14-16 January 2020 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Filipe Nyusi held on 15th January as a Special Envoy of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi;

• An Inter-Ministerial team led by the Deputy National Security Advisor of India visited Mozambique from May 3-5, 2022 to assist Mozambique address its national defence and security challenges.

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Maputo from 13-15 April 2023.

ANNEXURE II

Exchange of visits- From Mozambique to India:

• Minister of Foreign Trade and the Minister of State for Ports and Surface Transport in 1980;

• Defence Minister Gen Alberto Chipande in May 1989;

• Foreign Minister Mr Pascoal Mocumbi’s in August 1992;

• Defence Minister in November 1995;

• Interior Minister Mr Almerino Manhenje in September 1997;

• Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy in December 2003;

• Health Minister in February 2004;

• Defence Minister Mr Tobias Dai in March 2006;

• Minister for Science & Technology Prof Venancio Simão Massingue in July 2006;

• Mineral Resources Minister Mrs Esperança Bias in October 2006;

• Agriculture Minister Mr Tomas Mandlane in November 2006;

• Vice Minister for Mineral Resources Mr Abdul Razak Noormahomed in November 2007;

• Defence Minister Mr Tobias Dai in February 2008;

• Interior Minister Mr Jose Antonio Pacheco in July 2008;

• Energy Minister Dr Salvador Namburete in January 2009;

• Environment Minister Ms Alcinda Abreu in February 2009;

• Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Oldemiro Baloi in February 2009;

• Vice Minister of Agriculture Ms Caterine Pajume in March 2009;

• Minister for Science & Technology Prof Venancio Simão Massingue in January 2011;

• Minister of Planning & Development in January 2011;

• Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Eduardo Koloma, in February 2011;

• Education Minister Mr Zeferino Alexandre Martins in July 2011.

• Defence Minister Mr Fillipe Nyussi accompanied by Naval Chief in July 2011;

• First Lady Maria Da Luz Guebuza in November 2011 and January 2012;

• Minister for Science & Technology Prof Venancio Simão Massingue in March 2012;

• Vice Minister of Industry & Trade Mr Kenneth Viagem Marizane, in March 2012;

• Minister of Health Dr Alexandre Manguele, accompanied by Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr Kenneth Marizane, and Vice Minister of Planning and Development Ms Amelia Nakhare, in March 2012;

• Vice Minister of National Defence Mr Augustine Mondlane, in March 2012;

• Minister of Agriculture Mr Jose Pacheco, in June and September 2012.

• Vice Minister of Energy Mr Jaime Himede in October 2012; 

• Vice Minister for Mineral Resources Mr Abdul Razak Noormahomed in October 2012;

• Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Henrique Banze in October/November, 2012 to attend the IOR-ARC meeting.

• Vice Minister of Education in November 2012.

• Dr Alexandre Manguele, Minister of Health, accompanied by Vice Interior Minister and Vice Transports & Communications Minister on 20-26 January 2013;

• A 26-member delegation led by Agriculture Minister, and including Ministers of Energy, Health and Industry & Trade and Governors of three Provinces, attended the 9th CII-Exim Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held in New Delhi on 17-19 March, 2013;

• A 7-member delegation led by Minister of Public Works & Housing Cadmiel Mutemba, attended the India Water Week – 2013 held in New Delhi on 8-12 April, 2013.

• Mr. Eusebio Saide, Vice Minister of Transport & Communications at the invitation of CMAI Association of India (promoting IT) on 1-8 May, 2013 in New Delhi;

• Mr. Jose Mandra, Vice Minister of Interior on 9-13 September, 2013;

• Mr. Pedro Coute, Vice Minister of Finance on 13-16 December, 2013;

• Prime Minister Carlos Rosario attended the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi from 28-30 October 2015;

• Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloi paid a bilateral visit to India in November 2014;

• Health Minister, Dr. Nazira Abdula, visited India in September 2016;

• Minister for Transport and Communication, Carlos Mesquita, visited India in January 2017 when he had signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement;

• Foreign Minister Jose Pacheco visited India from 28th November to 2nd December 2018 to lead Mozambique at the 4th Joint Commission Meeting;

• Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Ragendra de Sousa attended 14th CII-EXIM bank conclave with business delegation from 17-19th March 2019 at New Delhi;

• Defence Minister, Atanasio Salvador M’tumuke visited India from 26-30 November 2019 when he had met NSA, EAM and RM and signed a supplementary MOU on Maritime Security in Mozambican EEZ;

• 2nd Foreign Office Consultations were held between the two countries during July 4-5, 2022 at New Delhi;

• President of the Assembly of the Mozambique, H.E. Ms. Esperanza Bias visited India during July 26–30, 2022 on the joint invitation of the Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, during the visit a bilateral MoU on Cooperation on Parliamentary Affairs was signed between the two sides;

• Defence Minister, Mr. Cristovao Artur Chume led a delegation to India to participate in the Def-Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from October 18-22, 2022 when he met with Raksha Mantri and also participated in the India-Africa Defence Dialogue;

• Minister for Industry & Commerce, Mr. Silvino Augusto Moreno, participated in the CII-EXIM Bank Africa Conclave on the theme – ‘India-Southern Africa Growth Partnership’ that was held at Johannesburg in South Africa on 31 October – 01 November 2022;

• President Nyusi participated in the virtual “Voice of the Global South Summit” (VGSS) which was led by our Prime Minister in January 2023;

• Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. Antonio Osvaldo Saide participated in ‘India Energy Week’ at Bangalore from February 6-8, 2023.

ANNEXURE-III

Visit of Indian Naval Ships: 

• INS Ranjit and INS Suvarna in June-July 2003; ? 

• INS Sujata and INS Savitri in May-June 2004; ?

• INS Mumbai and INS Karmuk in May 2008; ? 

• Four Indian Navy Ships from the Western Fleet in September 2010; ? 

• INS Darshak in March-April 2012; 

• INS Delhi and INS Deepak in November 2012;

• INS Teg visited the port of Nacala in November 2014;

• INS Trikand visited Maputo port in September 2016;

• INS Kolkata and INS Tarkash visited Maputo from 25-27 September 2018;

• Three Indian Navy Ships INS Sujata, Shardul and INCG Sharthi provided HADR from 18-30 March 2019 at Beira after the Cyclone IDAI stuck in Central Mozambique;

• INS Magar provided 250 tons of rice, 500 kg of medicines in mid-April 2019;

• INS Tarkash visited Maputo from 26-28 September 2019;

• INS Kesari visited Maputo in December 2021 and delivered a huge consignment of Government of India’s assistance package to Mozambique that comprised of 500 MT of rice, two fast speed interceptor boats, and also other useful military accessories. 

• INS Sujata visited Maputo from 19-21 March 2023 and undertook the joint surveillance of the Mozambican EEZ.