Mozambique | Youth highlighted as driving force of economic development

Mozambican youth were highlighted as the nation’s primary driving force for economic development. This recognition was made this Thursday in Maputo by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Caifadine Manasse, during the opening of the Youth Investment Summit 2026—a gathering bringing together young entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, financial institutions, academia, and development partners. Speaking at the event, the Minister maintained that investing in youth must constitute a strategic priority, given that more than 65 percent of Mozambique’s population is under 35 years old.

“Mozambique has over 65 percent of its population under the age of 35, and this is not merely a demographic reality—it is our greatest comparative advantage,” Manasse stated. He shared that more than 450,000 young people reach working age annually, which represents both a challenge and an opportunity for national development. According to the official, youth must assume a central role in national economic transformation, moving beyond the perception of being mere beneficiaries of public policies.

“The place for young people is not in the waiting room of national development; it is where decisions are made,” he declared. The organizer of the Youth Investment Summit 2026, Jorge Bruno, noted that Mozambique’s greatest potential lies in the capacity of its youth, arguing that young people should be viewed as strategic partners in economic growth. “Mozambique is not just the country of the future—it is the country of the present, and that present bears your face,” he said, appealing to the private sector and development partners to invest in innovative ideas, support startups, and create more opportunities to integrate youth into key value chains.

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Participant Vânia Chambule stated that the initiative helps strengthen the capacity of young entrepreneurs by facilitating knowledge sharing, networking, and the identification of new growth opportunities for their businesses. During the session, Caifadine Paulo Manasse also highlighted several government initiatives supporting youth, including the Agora Emprega program—which currently has over 145,000 applicants under evaluation for vocational training scholarships—and the Youth Initiative Support Fund (FAIJ), which expects to finance 160 projects this year. The Minister identified vocational training, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence as priority areas to prepare youth for future challenges, arguing that mastering new technologies will be decisive in boosting youth participation in the economy.

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