On 17 September 2026, H.E. Mr. Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of Mozambique, met with Mr. Gil Inguane, Permanent Secretary of Vilankulo District, to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between Thailand and Vilankulo, particularly through the continuation of the Thailand–Mozambique Seafood Processing Incubator project.

 

The project, implemented by the Royal Thai Embassy in Maputo in cooperation with relevant Thai and Mozambican partners, aims to transfer knowledge and practical skills in seafood processing, add value to local products, and create economic opportunities for local communities.

 

Ambassador Bancha expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the project and the participation of stakeholders from different sectors. He also expressed hope that the knowledge and equipment provided by Thailand would help local fishermen and entrepreneurs add value to fishery resources, develop new products, and generate sustainable income for local communities.

 

During the meeting, Mr. Gil Inguane welcomed the progress of the project and proposed expanding cooperation to aquaculture and tilapia breeding, drawing on the experience of a previous cooperation project implemented by the Embassy and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) in Bilene, Gaza Province. At present, farmers in Vilankulo District already operate more than 100 fish ponds, presenting significant potential for further aquaculture development and income generation for local communities.

 

On the same day, Ambassador Bancha also met with Prof. Dr. Izidro Justino Muhale, Director of the Escola Superior de Desenvolvimento Rural (ESUDER), or Higher School of Rural Development, under Eduardo Mondlane University, together with members of the institution’s management. Eduardo Mondlane University is the oldest and largest public university in Mozambique.

 

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the outcomes of the Thailand–Mozambique Seafood Processing Incubator and on ESUDER’s needs for the next phase of the project, including additional materials and equipment, capacity building in food processing and value addition, as well as product quality improvement, packaging, branding, and marketing.

 

The two sides also discussed ways to support products developed under the project in accessing the domestic market and, in the future, international markets, while further strengthening ESUDER’s role as a center for transferring knowledge to fishermen, students, entrepreneurs, and local communities.