Based on the use of local products, 44 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the provinces of Maputo, Manica and the city of Maputo each received funding of 120,000 meticais to strengthen and promote national industry.
The initiative is from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and has been implemented since 2022 by the Institute for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (IPEME).
Since the project's inception, 1,076 national companies have already benefited from the Local Industry Development Program - CaDUP Kaizen.
In an interview, Isabel Jaime Maite, founder of the company Estante do Tempero — one of the project's beneficiaries — explained that she has been in the market for three years, but that, before joining the program, she did not have sufficient expertise in managing her business.
According to Isabel, the demand for her products has increased significantly, which has also boosted sales growth.
“I had access to this project in February 2025. It was very advantageous because our company was not properly structured or organized. We didn't have solid knowledge of management, marketing, or sales,” she stated.
He further added that he received technical training in the areas of business management, accounting, marketing and sales.
“Since then, thanks to the technical assistance from CaDUP, our sales have increased significantly. We have expanded our production capacity and established formal partnerships with small farmers. In addition, our products are already available in some supermarkets in the city of Maputo,” he said.
In turn, the JICA representative, Sulimara Takahashi, highlighted that the agency's commitment has been to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in creating value from local resources, strengthening skills, improving production processes and promoting business self-confidence.
She added that this approach has contributed significantly to increasing the competitiveness and impact potential of participating companies.
The project thus constitutes an important instrument for the promotion of local products and the strengthening of national industry.
(By Joana Mawai)
