The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Mozambique’s digital transformation agenda, underlining the importance of establishing integrated cooperation mechanisms to drive a safe, inclusive, and sustainable digital transition.
The pledge was made during a high-level meeting held on Tuesday in Maputo between Mozambique’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation and a visiting EU delegation, aimed at reinforcing bilateral collaboration in the digital transformation sector.
The meeting, chaired by Minister Américo Muchanga, welcomed Paula Vazquez Horyaans, Head of the EU Delegation to Mozambique, and Hugo Van Tilborg, head of the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Unit.
This engagement is part of the implementation of the Global Gateway — the EU’s strategic initiative designed to mobilise up to €300 billion by 2027, with a focus on digital connectivity, smart infrastructure, and resilient public services.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation leads policy development and implementation in communications, information technology, science, innovation, and meteorology, positioning itself as a key driver of Mozambique’s digital transformation.
Minister Muchanga outlined key legislative and strategic tools currently in development, including the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Data Protection Law, the Cybersecurity Law, and the Strategic Information Society Plan.
He also highlighted structural initiatives for the 2025–2029 period, such as the implementation of Digital Identity, the Citizen Portal, Digital Certification, a national electronic payment infrastructure, and the expansion of connectivity to schools, community centres, and public services.
The minister praised the EU’s ongoing technical and financial assistance, notably in strengthening the National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC), developing digital legal frameworks, and providing cybersecurity training. He also referenced the VaMOZ Digital programme, which envisions the creation of tech hubs in Nampula and Zambézia, and a recently presented EU-funded study on middle- and last-mile infrastructure, showcased during the International Digitalisation Conference.
Muchanga proposed the creation of a joint coordination mechanism to align priorities between the two sides, in line with the Government’s Five-Year Plan for 2025–2029 and the National Digital Development Strategy. He noted that the Global Gateway provides a structural opportunity for joint initiatives in areas such as government interoperability, rural connectivity, digital skills development, technological innovation, and AI governance.
In response, Paula Vazquez Horyaans reiterated the EU’s steadfast commitment to supporting Mozambique’s digital transformation and stressed the need to strengthen integrated cooperation models to accelerate a digital shift that is secure, inclusive, and sustainable.
The meeting concluded with mutual recognition of the strategic importance of digital transformation for national development and for Mozambique’s integration into the global digital economy, reinforcing the strong partnership between the Government of Mozambique and the European Union in a sector deemed crucial for the country’s future.
