Promote:
Invest in Mozambique
A short guide for companies expanding into Mozambique: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Mozambique at a glance
PopulationEstimate
35.6 million
Mozambique's population was 35,631,653 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mozambique population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$22.3 billion
GDP was US$22.34 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mozambique GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$627
GDP per person was US$626.91 in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mozambique GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
−0.5%
Real GDP growth was negative 0.52 percent in 2025, by the World Bank figure.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mozambique real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
6.3%
Annual inflation was 6.31 percent in September 2026, the statistics office's year-on-year rate, which the central bank also reported.
Source: INE Mozambique, consumer price index, September 2026 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$5.69 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$5,693.0 million in 2025, per UNCTAD data.
Source: UNCTADstat, Mozambique foreign direct investment inflows (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Mozambican metical.
Source: World Bank WDI, Mozambique country metadata (opens in a new tab) · as of October 8, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is APIEX, which also manages the special economic zones.
Source: APIEX, about the agency (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
The one-stop shop is the Balcão de Atendimento Único (BAU), a public institute that licenses and registers economic activities, including on its e-BAU platform.
Source: Balcão de Atendimento Único, home page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Under Article 18 of Law No. 8/2023, investors may enter all areas except those reserved to the State or restricted by nationality under specific legislation; the law names none.
Source: Mozambique Private Investment Law 8/2023, June 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 9, 2023
APIEX lists ten zones: six special economic zones, one of them an integrated tourism resort area, and four industrial free zones.
Source: APIEX, list of special economic zones (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Mozambique
- Register the company or reserve its name, as the investment application requires one; APIEX's 2019 guide places this at the one-stop shop.Balcão de Atendimento Único, Instituto PúblicoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Mozambique Decree 8/2024, investment law regulation, March 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 7, 2024
- Secure the site with a land use right (DUAT) title or a lease, which the investment application also requires.Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DSPI)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Mozambique Decree 8/2024, investment law regulation, March 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 7, 2024
- Submit an investment proposal to APIEX for registration, or a feasibility study for authorization if the project is large or sensitive.Investment and Export Promotion AgencyRegistration decision within three days of the file, per Decree 8/2024Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Mozambique Decree 8/2024, investment law regulation, March 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 7, 2024
- Get the unique tax identification number (NUIT) and register for taxes before you claim incentives, as APIEX's 2019 guide describes.Autoridade Tributária de MoçambiqueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: APIEX, Mozambique Investment Procedure Guide, August 2019 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 4 more set-up steps
- Get the sector license from the supervising ministry or the one-stop shop once the project is registered, as APIEX's 2019 guide describes.Balcão de Atendimento Único, Instituto PúblicoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: APIEX, Mozambique Investment Procedure Guide, August 2019 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Apply for work permits within the foreign worker quota and for visas and residence documents, as APIEX's 2019 guide describes.Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social SecurityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: APIEX, Mozambique Investment Procedure Guide, August 2019 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Open a bank account in Mozambique and bring the investment capital through it, since transfers outside the national banking system do not count as foreign investment.Banco de MoçambiqueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Mozambique Decree 8/2024, investment law regulation, March 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 7, 2024
- Have your bank register the foreign direct investment with the central bank; no authorization is needed, but later profit transfers require the registration.Banco de MoçambiqueCapital goods brought in as investment are registered within 90 days of entryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Banco de Moçambique, Aviso 3/GBM/2024 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 20, 2024
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with AT. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
One-stop shop for business licensing
BAU
Balcão de Atendimento Único, Instituto Público
Licenses and registers economic activities, including through its e-BAU platform.
Visit BAU (opens in a new tab)Source: Balcão de Atendimento Único, home page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank and exchange authority
Banco de Moçambique
Is the foreign exchange authority, and registers foreign investment so profits and capital can be transferred.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
AT
Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique
Runs customs, issues certificates of origin for preferential trade, and administers taxes.
Visit AT (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Mozambique, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 27, 2024
- Meet requirements
Electronic single window operator
MCNet
Mozambique Community Network
Runs the Electronic Single Window where exporters file customs declarations.
Visit MCNet (opens in a new tab)Source: MCNet, Electronic Single Window portal (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Get advice
Customs brokers chamber
CDA
Câmara dos Despachantes Aduaneiros de Moçambique
Licenses customs brokers, whom exporters may hire to file declarations.
Visit CDA (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Mozambique, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 27, 2024
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCM
Câmara de Comércio de Moçambique
Issues certificates of origin for uses other than SADC trade and runs an online certificate portal.
Visit CCM (opens in a new tab)Source: Portal do Comércio Externo, rules of origin (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Business confederation
CTA
Confederação das Associações Económicas de Moçambique
Represents business associations and runs a business support office and an ombudsman for entrepreneurs.
Visit CTA (opens in a new tab)Source: CTA, home page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
As of 2024, per the WTO review, the authorities reported 62 days to export in 2023, and 70 percent of customs declarations went through the red channel.
What to do: Prepare documents and timing with your customs contact, and confirm the declaration channel for your goods.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Mozambique, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 27, 2024
Climate and water
As of 2024, per the WTO review, Mozambique is highly exposed and vulnerable to weather-related hazards that tend to cause significant economic damage.
What to do: Check weather and insurance exposure along your supply chain before you commit to delivery dates.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Mozambique, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 27, 2024
Reserved sectors
Under Law No. 8/2023, investors may enter any area except activities reserved to the State or restricted by nationality under specific legislation.
What to do: Check the sector's own law, and APIEX's guide, before you set the ownership structure.
Sources: Mozambique Private Investment Law 8/2023, June 2023 (opens in a new tab); APIEX, Mozambique Investment Procedure Guide, August 2019 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 9, 2023
Land use rights
As of 2024, per the WTO review, all land is state property, and foreign investors need an approved project and local presence to obtain a land use right.
What to do: Confirm land rights with the district authority before you commit to a site.
Sources: WTO Trade Policy Review, Mozambique, 2024 (opens in a new tab); APIEX, Mozambique Investment Procedure Guide, August 2019 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 27, 2024
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Currency and settlement
Decree 8/2024 sets a minimum foreign investment of MZN 6,500,000 for transferring profits and capital abroad, and the investment must be registered with the central bank.
What to do: Register the investment with the central bank before you arrange any transfer abroad.
Sources: Mozambique Decree 8/2024, investment law regulation, March 2024 (opens in a new tab); WTO Trade Policy Review, Mozambique, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 7, 2024
Security in the north
The FCDO advises against all travel to most of Cabo Delgado Province and to districts in Nampula and Niassa provinces.
What to do: Check current official travel advice and your insurer's terms before you arrange site visits.
Source: GOV.UK, FCDO travel advice for Mozambique (opens in a new tab) · as of August 20, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Mozambique with other countriesSet Mozambique beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Mozambique is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.