Maputo, Mozambique, 15 Jun. – Mozambique remains one of the least competitive countries in Africa in which to do business, according to the most recent joint report from the African Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank and the World Economic forum (WEF).

Made public last week in Cape Town, South Africa, and now cited by Mozambican newspaper Notícias, Mozambique is ranked 130th in the list of countries in terms of ease of doing business, in Africa ahead of only Mauritania, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Chad.

By sectors, in terms of quality of training and higher education Mozambique ranks 129th (worldwide), in market and asset efficiency (127th place), workforce efficiency (98th place), sophistication of the financial market (122nd), technology (116th) and size of market (107th worldwide).

The report also noted that, particularly in Africa, financial development and free trade are essential to overcome the international financial crisis and that improving infrastructure, health, education and governance remained, in the medium term, the keys to greater competitiveness.

These conclusions are part of a report entitled, “The Africa Competitiveness Report 2009”, presented at a meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Cape Town, South Africa.

“The Africa Competitiveness Report of this year is the second initiative of our three organisations to put the context in a wider international context and shed light on important aspects of development in the region, which are particularly critical in this period of global crisis,” said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. (macauhub)