Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has urged for increased international investment and cooperation in the development of a sustainable blue economy, framing ocean governance as a cornerstone of the country’s long-term prosperity. Speaking at the opening of the third Marine Biodiversity Conference in Beira, Sofala Province, on 4 September 2025, Chapo outlined a national strategy that integrates environmental stewardship with inclusive economic growth.
“Mozambique is an oceanic nation that protects its natural heritage, a heritage that belongs to our people and must be managed sustainably to create opportunities for them,” Chapo stated. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international accord that seeks to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
Chapo emphasised that the Mozambican government’s objective is to build a sustainable and inclusive blue economy capable of creating jobs, particularly for young people and women. He underscored the importance of addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which continues to undermine coastal livelihoods across the region. Investments that enhance value addition within local supply chains, he argued, are vital to ensuring communities receive fairer returns from their natural resources.
The president also called for stronger alignment between domestic priorities and international cooperation, highlighting that Mozambique’s marine wealth—spanning fisheries, biodiversity, energy, and maritime transport—requires both local guardianship and global partnership to deliver equitable development outcomes.
Mozambique’s strategy is consistent with broader African Union (AU) commitments to the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy, which positions the continent’s oceans and seas as key to sustainable development. By embedding marine governance within a Pan-African framework, Chapo’s call reinforces the notion that Africa’s blue economy is not simply an extractive frontier, but a shared heritage requiring collective stewardship and innovation.
Observers note that Mozambique’s 2,700-kilometre coastline makes it one of the most strategically significant maritime nations in the Indian Ocean. With the Indian Ocean increasingly recognised as a geopolitical and economic theatre, the country’s leadership in promoting marine sustainability situates it at the forefront of regional ocean governance debates.
Chapo’s appeal for international partnerships reflects the growing consensus among African states that sustainable ocean management must serve both local communities and the continent’s integration into the global economy. In this respect, Mozambique’s approach offers a nuanced vision—balancing conservation, economic inclusion, and multilateral cooperation—that aligns with global biodiversity frameworks while foregrounding African agency.
