Mozambique: Welding Olympics return in 2026 with national expansion

Talento announces the second edition of the Welding Olympics, taking place in Maputo and Matola and, for the first time, in Pemba. On May 1st, International Workers’ Day, Talento announced the official launch of the 2026 Welding Olympics (OS26). The timing is no coincidence: on a day when the world celebrates labour, OS26 celebrates those who perform it with excellence.

In line with the event’s growth, the aim is to adopt an approach that deepens the involvement of technical and vocational education institutions, ensuring that the best trainees, trainers and professionals in the country are present at the Olympics. “Mozambique has serious technical talent — what was missing was a stage worthy of it. In 2026 that stage grows: we reach Cabo Delgado and reaffirm our commitment to technical and vocational education as a path of excellence.”— Frederico P.

Silva, CEO of Talento ExxonMobil Mocçambique, Limitada (“EMML”) returns as Diamond Sponsor, consolidating a commitment that has accompanied the initiative since its first edition. EMML has been a determining partner not only through financial support, but through its explicit recognition that the development of technical skills is essential to the sustainable growth of the energy sector in Mozambique. “ExxonMobil believes that the sustainable development of Mozambique depends on investment in people.

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The Welding Olympics are a concrete example of how the private sector and training institutions can act as a catalyst for the development of local content.”— Matthew Scharf, Director of Public Affairs, EMML Ascending joins as Platinum Sponsor, deepening an involvement that began in the first edition and takes on a new dimension in 2026: the company not only sponsors the event but hosts the Cabo Delgado competition at the training centre it manages. This dual participation — as sponsor and as host — reflects a genuine commitment to the technical development of the region. “We share the vision that quality technical training is the foundation of industrial development in Mozambique.

Bringing the Welding Olympics to Cabo Delgado,through our training centre, is a step that fills us with pride.”— Andrew da Silva, CEO of Ascending The first edition brought together 153 participants — students, trainers and professionals — involving more than 15 institutions and companies, and culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Talento, the Matola Industrial and Commercial Institute (IICM), ABSA Bank, the Mozambique Industrial Association (AIMO) and the Mozambique Local Content Association (ACLM). National media coverage helped raise the profile of the welding profession and technical-vocational education in the public debate. • Talento Internship Programme: paid internships at selected partner companies.• Guided institute visits: companies gain direct insight into the infrastructure and technical capabilities of leading training centres.• Audiovisual mini-series: documentary content featuring participants and sponsors, distributed across national and digital media.• Digital talent platform: a workforce mapping tool that facilitates connections between companies and trainees after the event.

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