Mozambique, barely 20 years out of the civil war, despite being one of the world’s poorest countries is now one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Recent offshore discoveries in the Rovuma Basin of the world’s fourth largest reserves of natural gas will further fuel development. Though the hydrocarbons sector is set to provide a major part of the country’s projected 7.9% GDP growth for 2013, the Mozambican mining sector holds a great deal of promise. In fact, impressive deposits of coal, graphite, and precious and semiprecious stones are just a few examples of the vast untapped resource wealth that Mozambique holds that can help transform the nation from a fledgling economy into a true regional leader. Medium-term forecasts for the sector suggest that the 3% contribution to the country’s GDP today will double in the coming five years. Already the African Economic Outlook has described 2011 as a ‘turning point’ for Mozambique marked by the country’s first overseas exports of coal in over 20 years.

However, despite Mozambique’s proximity to shipping lanes reaching China, India and the Middle East, railway, port and energy infrastructure are falling far behind the country’s needs given its projected growth. Before Mozambique can truly live up to its title of ‘the Gateway to Southern Africa’ and provide access to its landlocked neighbours-Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Swaziland, both the government and private sector must collaborate in making investments that will secure a stable future for the country’s predominately young population.