Launch of the book Mozambique at a Fork in the Road in Maputo covered by local media

‘In order to boost inclusive economic growth in Mozambique, there is a need to improve allocative efficiency.’ This was the one of the key messages featured in the local media’s coverage of the launch of the Mozambique at a Fork in the Road: The Institutional Diagnostic Project book.

António Cruz, one of the co-authors of the book quoted by Jornal O Económico, stated that it is fundamental that institutions are operationally and technically efficient and that information regarding public financial management is easily accessible to all. Cruz was quoted as highlighting the importance of ‘(…) a well-functioning public financial management system and taking the necessary steps to implement reforms.’

Another person quoted by the media was Fernando Lichucha, Director of the Faculty of Economics. During his intervention, he referred to the importance of the book to help understand the functioning of institutions in Mozambique and their role in the economy. ‘Without reliable Mozambican institutions, economic development falls short of its potential and this is a fact amplified by the book,’ the Jornal da Comunidade of the University of Eduardo Mondlane quoted him as saying. 

To counter the challenges to the country’s economic growth, the media referred to the recommendations of improving tax policy and the management of the Tax Authority. ‘It is necessary to gradually and continuously broaden the taxpayer base, consolidate tax revenues as part of the gross domestic product, create an environment conducive to the economic expansion of taxpayers and improve the management of the Tax Authority and better management of resources’, Jornal O Económico reported.

The launch event of the Mozambique at a Fork in the Road: the Institutional Diagnostic book was held in an in-person event 20 March 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Maputo, Mozambique. It brought together a wide audience including policymakers, academics, development partners, and civil society representatives.

The launch event was covered by various local media outlets, including Televisão de Moçambique (TVM), Jornal O Económico, and Jornal da Comunidade of the University of Eduardo Mondlane. It also featured on the website of the University of Eduardo Mondlane.