Mozambique: Fuel crisis threatens participation in country’s largest trade fair

“The macroeconomic context remains challenging, characterised by constraints on access to foreign currency, financing limitations, high operating costs and occasional challenges in fuel supply. These factors may have varying effects on companies’ ability to participate and their level of investment,” said Amâncio Gume, vice-president of the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA). He was speaking in Maputo during the presentation of preparations for the 61st edition of the Maputo International Fair (Facim), Mozambique’s largest exhibition of goods and services, which will take place from 31 August to 7 September.

He added that, despite these constraints, the CTA anticipates that the level of participation by companies will be “significant”. “Although increasingly strategic, selective and focused on concrete results, companies will participate to the extent that they find effective business opportunities at Facim, including structured platforms for B2B business meetings [face-to-face meetings] and access to new markets,” said Amâncio Gume. For several weeks now, Mozambique has been facing difficulties in fuel supply, with petrol stations closed across the country and widespread queues, as well as limits on the purchase of diesel or petrol and a reduction in transport services, following the conflict in the Middle East.

In the run-up to Facim 2026, with the theme “Digital and Energy Transformation”, business leaders aim to strengthen public-private partnerships through dialogue and interaction, connections with financing and strategic partners, particularly in the energy, agro-industry and manufacturing sectors, as well as practical solutions to key constraints, notably regarding access to inputs, technology and distribution channels. Also at the launch of the fair, the representative of the ministry of the economy for the event, Alfredo Nampuio, acknowledged the impact of the fuel shortage in the country, assuring that work is underway to ensure participants “do not feel the strain”, highlighting the provision of public transport to the event venue. “We will focus on organised public transport, solely for Facim.

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This will mean more people attending Facim with good mobility. We will set up strategic stops, with small car parks located near these stops (…). As a result, we will greatly reduce any difficulties that may arise due to the fuel shortage,” said Alfredo Nampuio, adding that they are also exploring alternatives to reduce the traffic that usually builds up on the way to the fairground, in the district of Marracuene, Maputo province.

Thirty countries, including Portugal, are expected to participate, with the organisers anticipating 55,000 visitors and the signing of business investment agreements. At the launch of the fair, the minister of the economy, Basílio Muhate, argued that the public and private sectors “must work hand in hand towards a new paradigm of mutual and economic development” in Mozambique, noting that FACIM “seeks to establish itself as one of the main business platforms” in southern Africa, “driven by private initiative”. “We hope that the new approach, with a focus on results and private leadership, will bring greater dynamism to the event,” he added.

FACIM also expects to welcome 6,500 foreign exhibitors as well as Mozambican brands, with Brazil as the guest of honour and the Mozambican province of Niassa in the spotlight. The ambassadors for FACIM 2026 are businessman Salimo Abdula and athlete Maria de Lurdes Mutola.

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