Mozambique Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in mozambique, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Selling to the Public Sector
Last published date:

Selling to the Government

The Public Procurement Regulations govern the public tender process in Mozambique and apply to all municipalities and majority state-owned enterprises. Public tenders are mandatory for government procurements exceeding $10 million. These regulations cover the procurement of products, services, and concessions in general, with specific rules for certain sectors such as mineral resources, public-private partnerships, and large-scale projects. The Unit for the Supervision of Acquisitions (UFSA), under the Ministry of Economy’s National Directorate of State Assets (DNPE), is responsible for overseeing and enforcing these regulations.

Additionally, purchases may be subject to conditions set by international donors or investment agencies funding particular projects. To be eligible for public tenders, both local and foreign companies must demonstrate legal, financial, and technical qualifications, as well as a compliant tax record, to the government.

U.S. companies bidding on foreign government tenders may also qualify for U.S. Government advocacy. Within the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters in competition with foreign firms in foreign government projects or procurement opportunities. The Advocacy Center works closely with our network of the U.S. Commercial Service worldwide and inter-agency partners to ensure that exporters of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance of winning government contracts. Advocacy assistance can take many forms but often involves the U.S. Embassy or other U.S. Government agency officials expressing support for the U.S. exporters directly to the foreign government. Consult the Advocacy Center’s program web page on trade.gov for additional information.

Financing of Projects

Major infrastructure projects in Mozambique are often financed through foreign development grants and concessionary financing. The financial sector is largely dominated by banks, with high interest rates and short repayment terms, limiting the ability to raise capital for large-scale capital expenditure projects locally. Additionally, the underdeveloped Mozambique Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Moçambique, BVM) further restricts domestic capital-raising efforts.

To address these challenges, many of the country’s infrastructure initiatives are structured as public-private partnerships (PPPs), typically involving 15–30-year concession agreements. The government has made efforts to create financially viable, bankable projects to attract international investors. Notable examples include the recently completed Temane Thermal Power Station and the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Dam, both designed to attract foreign investment and serve Mozambique’s long-term, domestic energy needs.

Multilateral Development Banks & Financing Government Sales

Price, payment terms, and financing can be a significant factor in winning a government contract. Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB). The Guide to Doing Business with Multilateral Development Banks overviews how to work with MDBs. The International Trade Administration (ITA) has a Foreign Commercial Service Officer stationed at each of the five different Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs): the African Development Bank; the Asian Development Bank; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Inter-American Development Bank; and the World Bank.

Learn more by contacting:

Commercial Liaison Office to the African Development Bank.

U.S. Government Support

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank) offers loan guarantees, insurance, and project financing to promote the export of U.S. goods, with a particular interest in the Mozambican market. For more details on the services available for Mozambique, consult the Bank’s Country Limitation Schedule.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), America’s development bank, partners with the private sector to finance solutions for critical global challenges. DFC offers project financing through loans or loan guarantees, as well as political risk insurance for projects in Mozambique. Small business owners exploring the market can contact the Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) offers feasibility study and training grants for certain infrastructure projects, helping to advance U.S. business interests in Mozambique

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM) helps finance exports of U.S. agricultural products. Currently, there are no Mozambican banks approved under the GSM-102 program. However, eligible banks in other countries in the region are able to facilitate exports to Mozambique.

The USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation also offers are range of export and foreign assistance programs to promote U.S. agricultural exports. Interested exporters are encouraged to contact the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service for more information. 

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility