Gaborone, Sept. 29, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambican exports to Botswana totalled around €69.4 million between 2021 and 2025, whilst imports from that country amounted to approximately €11.4 million over the same period, the Mozambican president has announced.
«Between 2021 and 2025, Mozambique exported around $79 million [€69.4 million] worth of goods to Botswana and imported around $13 million [€11.4 million],» said the Mozambican Head of State.
Speaking at the Mozambique-Botswana Business Forum, held in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, on Monday as part of his state visit to Botswana, Chapo stated that current levels of bilateral trade remain below the potential offered by the two economies. According to Chapo, in 2025 Botswana accounted for just 0.1% of Mozambican exports.
«These figures fall far short of the potential of our economies and the quality of our political and diplomatic relations,» he said.
The Mozambican president therefore called for closer economic ties between the two countries, arguing that the existing strong political relationship should translate into more trade, investment and joint production.
«We want to move from a predominantly political and diplomatic relationship (...) to a predominantly economic and strategic one, based on trade, investment, production, industrialisation and job creation,» he declared, highlighting the transport and logistics, agriculture, livestock, tourism, energy and industrialisation sectors as areas with the potential to boost trade between the two countries.
He also emphasised that Mozambique intends to position its ports and development corridors as platforms serving regional trade, including that of Botswana, a landlocked country.
For his part, Botswana's President, Duma Boko, considered that the business forum represents an opportunity to deepen economic cooperation and increase investment between the two countries.
«This business forum is a declaration of intent. It reflects the commitment of our two governments to forge new paths of cooperation, unlock opportunities and build private-sector-led economies,» said Boko.
The Mozambique–Botswana Business Forum brought together businesspeople, investors and government representatives from both countries to identify new opportunities for trade and investment.
Mozambican president Daniel Chapo highlighted the development of the port of Techobanine, energy cooperation and the strengthening of logistical links as priorities for the partnership between the two countries.
During a meeting with the President of Botswana, Duma Boko, as part of his three-day state visit to that country, Chapo emphasised the importance of transforming political agreements into concrete projects with a regional economic impact.
Chapo also said that Mozambique intends to benefit from Botswana's experience in the exploration and management of mineral resources, at a time when the country is updating its legislation in this sector.
«We want to learn from Botswana. It has a wealth of experience in this sector,» he said, adding that the aim is to increase the capacity for production, export and industrialisation of Mozambican mineral resources.
Chapo also noted that the reform and digitalisation of public administration currently underway in Botswana could serve as a model for Mozambique.
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