Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Mozambique soared by 400 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period last year, according to the country's Investment Promotion Center (CPI).
According to the CPI on Friday, also in the first half of 2010, CPI approved 82 projects and 38 addenda (reinvestments) worth 601. 2 million U.S. dollars.
The center also added 53.62 per cent of theses investments are in the agribusiness sector, which are expected to generate about 7,000 new jobs.
As for the country of origin, according to the center, Portugal tops the list of foreign investors in the first half of 2010.
With investments amounting 58.9 million dollars Portugal left behind Italy, Spain, China and South Africa - the latter led the list of major foreign investors in the first half of 2009.
This trend shows a considerable improvement in diplomatic and economic relations between Maputo and Lisbon, members of the Portuguese Speaking Community(CPLP).
In June this year, the two governments formalized in Maputo the creation of the National Investment Bank (BNI).
The bank has share capital of 500 million U.S. dollars and is to focus its activities on long term investments, mainly infrastructures, in Mozambique, before the end of this year.
Norway was the largest foreign investor in Mozambique in 2009, with two projects approved by CPI worth 742.3 million dollars./.