On 28 July 2026, H.E. Mr. Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of Mozambique, accompanied by Mr. Yahya Wongkanya, First Secretary and Head of the Economic Section, paid a courtesy call on and held discussions with H.E. Mr. António Grispos, Secretary of State for Trade of the Republic of Mozambique. Mr. Gabriel Mutisse, CEO of ICM Logistics under the Mozambique Cereals Institute, and Ms. Beatriz Machava, Deputy National Director of Economy, Studies and Cooperation, also participated in the meeting.

 

The meeting marked one of Ambassador Bancha’s first high-level engagements on economic, trade and investment matters following his assumption of duty in Mozambique. The Ambassador reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening economic relations between Thailand and Mozambique, particularly by expanding trade and investment cooperation and promoting stronger connections between the private sectors of the two countries under the Royal Thai Government’s Thailand–Africa Initiative (TAI).

 

Mozambique is an important economic partner of Thailand in Southern Africa and hosts one of the largest cumulative values of Thai private-sector investment on the African continent, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, agricultural machinery and automotive-parts sectors.

The two sides discussed the overall state of bilateral trade, which reached USD 653.95 million in 2025. Thailand’s exports to Mozambique amounted to USD 131.70 million, while imports from Mozambique were valued at USD 522.25 million. Thailand’s principal exports to Mozambique include rice, motor vehicles and parts, machinery, food products and various industrial goods.

 

Both sides agreed to work towards convening the third Thailand–Mozambique Joint Trade Committee (JTC) at the earliest opportunity. The JTC would serve as an important mechanism for following up on and advancing trade and investment cooperation, as well as addressing trade-related obstacles between the two countries in a concrete manner.

 

Regarding rice trade, the two sides exchanged views on ways to strengthen cooperation between Thailand and Mozambique. Mozambique is an important market that imports a significant volume of Thai rice. Thailand expressed its readiness to continue promoting cooperation in this area in support of food security and the expansion of bilateral trade opportunities.

 

On investment, Ambassador Bancha requested the Mozambican Government’s continued support for Thai private-sector projects, particularly the Macuse Port and Railway Project, in which Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited is involved, as well as the investment of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, or PTTEP, in the Mozambique LNG Project.

 

The Ambassador welcomed the resumption of activities under the Mozambique LNG Project and sought the Mozambican Government’s support in facilitating licences, customs procedures and other relevant authorisations, so that the project could proceed according to plan and contribute to Mozambique’s economy and the long-term well-being of its people.

 

For FACIM 2026, scheduled to take place from 31 August to 6 September 2026, Thailand will participate with a total exhibition area comprising 11 booths. PTTEP will showcase Thailand’s energy capabilities and its investment in Mozambique. In addition, more than six Thai private companies specialising in agricultural machinery and technology will participate, reflecting the growing interest of Thai businesses in economic opportunities in Mozambique.

 

The discussion took place in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. The Mozambican side expressed its readiness to work closely with Thailand to further advance and elevate bilateral trade and investment cooperation in a more concrete and mutually beneficial manner.

 

On this occasion, Ambassador Bancha presented H.E. Mr. António Grispos with a Benjarong porcelain cup and dried mango from Thailand as tokens of friendship between Thailand and Mozambique. In return, H.E. Mr. Grispos presented the Ambassador with roasted cashew nuts, one of Mozambique’s important export products.

The meeting reflected the shared commitment of Thailand and Mozambique to strengthening economic relations, promoting an environment conducive to trade and investment, and developing concrete cooperation between the public and private sectors of both countries.