On 3 November 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 and Development Cooperation Section, met with Mr. Celso Fulano, Administrator of KaTembe Municipal District in Maputo, to exchange views on economic potential, investment opportunities, tourism, and ways to strengthen development cooperation between Thailand and Mozambique, particularly in the KaTembe area.

Mr. Fulano and his team provided an overview of KaTembe's development potential and future priorities. Located on the southern shore of Maputo Bay, KaTembe offers promising opportunities in sustainable tourism, agriculture, seafood processing, clean energy, and infrastructure development, including prospects for developing the KaTembe Special Economic Zone. Nevertheless, the district continues to face challenges related to employment generation, human resource development, and urban planning.

The district administration is currently prioritising tourism and service-related projects, including the development of restaurants, markets, marinas, and real estate projects offering scenic views of Maputo Bay and the Tembe River.

The Mozambican side also expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with Thailand in several areas, including scholarships and vocational training opportunities for young people in Thailand, particularly in engineering, agricultural technology transfer, the exchange of knowledge and experience in local development, as well as environmental management and adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

Ambassador Bancha commended KaTembe's strategic location and considerable potential to emerge as a new economic and tourism hub of Maputo. He noted that the opening of the Maputo–KaTembe Bridge in 2018, the longest suspension bridge in Africa, has significantly improved connectivity and facilitated urban expansion. He further observed that KaTembe could develop into a vibrant business and tourism district, similar to major cities around the world that have experienced economic growth and urban development on both sides of a river or bay.

The Ambassador reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to strengthening economic and development cooperation with Mozambique, particularly through knowledge transfer in agriculture and seafood processing, as well as the introduction of Thai agricultural machinery to improve agricultural productivity in Mozambique. He highlighted the presence of Thai Agritech Consortium, which has commenced operations and established cooperation with Mozambique's Ministry of Agriculture. He also underscored opportunities for Thai private-sector investment in services, hospitality, and public utilities infrastructure, encouraging Thai businesses to explore opportunities to invest in and contribute to the future development of KaTembe.

Ambassador Bancha further expressed his intention to promote KaTembe's economic potential and business opportunities among Thai entrepreneurs. He also highlighted the possibility of promoting tourism connectivity between KaTembe's attractions, particularly the scenic Maputo Bay and the Maputo–KaTembe Bridge, and Maputo National Park, which forms part of a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and is located not far from the area. The park offers considerable potential to attract Thai tourists interested in nature-based tourism and wildlife experiences in Mozambique.

Both sides also discussed opportunities to strengthen relations between Bangkok and Maputo through the exchange of knowledge and experience in urban management, local economic development, and sustainable urban development. Such cooperation could serve as an additional avenue for strengthening bilateral relations and expanding long-term cooperation between Thailand and Mozambique.

Following the meeting, the Administrator of KaTembe Municipal District accompanied Ambassador Bancha and his delegation on a site visit to areas with potential for future development. These included waterfront sites suitable for real estate development along the bay and river, areas designated for potential oil refinery and energy projects, and coastal areas with potential for new urban development. The delegation also visited beachfront areas near the Maputo–KaTembe Bridge, which offer opportunities for the development of hotels, restaurants, and tourism attractions. On this occasion, the Mozambican side invited interested Thai entrepreneurs and investors to explore investment and business opportunities in KaTembe in the future.