Negócios em África

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the business environment in Mozambique through interviews conducted in November 2003 with South African companies. It analyzes the drivers of South African investment, the systemic challenges faced by firms—particularly small and medium enterprises—and the impact of this investment on the Mozambican economy.

• South Africa is the primary investor in Mozambique, accounting for 49% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) between 1997 and 2002. While investments span various sectors including retail, services, and agriculture, the mining-industrial complex dominates in terms of actual investment value.
• There is a stark difference in the business experience between large and small investors. Large projects, such as the Mozal aluminum smelter and the Sasol gas pipeline, benefit from high-level government support and bilateral cooperation between the South African and Mozambican governments. In contrast, small South African firms face significant bureaucracy, 'small corruption', and harassment from lower-level state officials, similar to the experiences of local businesses.
• The Mozambican business environment is hindered by severe bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption. Registering a company in Mozambique takes an average of 153 days, significantly longer than in South Africa (38 days) or Tanzania (35 days). Corruption is frequently linked to opaque licensing requirements and the need for official authorization for basic property maintenance.
• High import duties and the 'dollarization' of the economy increase costs for businesses and consumers. Import taxes on most consumer goods and food exceed 42% (comprising 17% VAT and 25% import duty). This price disparity encourages smuggling and leads many Mozambicans to purchase household goods in South African border towns like Nelspruit.
• The legal and financial systems in Mozambique are underdeveloped and pose risks to investors. The judiciary is described as vulnerable to bribery, with commercial litigation often lasting years; debt recovery in Maputo can take up to 540 days. Additionally, the 1997 Land Law, which designates all land as state property, prevents land from being used as collateral for loans, particularly in rural areas.
• South African FDI has contributed to economic distortions in Mozambique, specifically regarding income levels and geographic disparities. Investment is heavily concentrated in the south; in 2001, Maputo (city and province) received 92.7% of all FDI, resulting in a per capita GDP in Maputo that is six times the national average.
• Infrastructure deficits force companies to invest in their own compensatory mechanisms to maintain operations. This includes installing diesel generators to counter frequent power outages outside Maputo, drilling private water boreholes, and utilizing maritime transport to avoid the high costs and inefficiencies of land transport.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). Negócios em África. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2004/02/biap_rep_02_mozambique_report_2004_pt.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Negócios em África. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2004/02/biap_rep_02_mozambique_report_2004_pt.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Negócios em África |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2004/02/biap_rep_02_mozambique_report_2004_pt.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndnegcios, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Negócios em África}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2004/02/biap_rep_02_mozambique_report_2004_pt.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }