ACA, CBT strengthen ties with Mozambique ahead of Tanzania Conference

Mozambique has been officially invited to play a key role in this year’s 19^th African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Annual Cashew Conference and Expo, scheduled for Tanzania from November 18-21, following a high-level ACA and Cashew nut Board of Tanzania (CBT) mission that held talks with Mozambican cashew authorities last week.

In collaboration with the Director General of the CBT, Mr. Alfred Francis, the ACA Board President, Mr. Ibrahim Sanfo, met with the Instituto de Amêndoas de Moçambique, IP (IAM, IP), the regulatory body for cashew and other nuts, on August 12 and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries on August 13.

The delegation was hosted at the Ministry by Secretary of State of Fisheries, Mr. Momade Arnaldo Juízo on behalf of the Minister, Mr. Roberto Mito Albino.

He welcomed the ACA team and expressed appreciation for the official invitation, congratulating the Alliance for sustaining the Conference for 19 editions.

Mr. Juízo reaffirmed Mozambique’s commitment to participate in the Conference in November, pledging strong support from the Ministry and country’s cashew industry at large.

In his remarks, Mr. Sanfo expressed the ACA’s appreciation to the Ministry for affirming its support and participation in the Conference. He noted that Mozambique has long been a close partner of the Alliance, with collaboration spanning more than two decades. This long-standing relationship, he emphasized, reflects the importance of Mozambique in the sustainability agenda of the African cashew industry and within the global cashew industry at large.

He highlighted that Mozambique is among only two countries to have hosted the ACA Annual Conference three times. Beyond hosting the Conference, he recalled that the ACA has implemented several projects in Mozambique over the years, all aimed at strengthening production, enhancing local processing and promoting sustainability of the industry.

The Managing Director of the ACA, Mr. Ernest Mintah, on his part said this year’s Conference, held under the theme Unlocking Cashew Investment Opportunities for Sustainable Growth, offers a unique platform for stakeholders to deliberate on innovative strategies and attract investments to propel the industry towards growth. He emphasized that the Conference will not only address pressing challenges but also chart a course towards a more competitive and sustainable cashew industry.

The Director General of the Cashew nut Board of Tanzania, Mr. Alfred Francis, underscored the growing collaboration between the governments of Tanzania and Mozambique and urged the two cashew authorities to work towards building a stronger cashew industry in East Africa. 

The ACA delegation was led by the Board President, Mr. Ibrahim Sanfo, and included the Managing Director, Mr. Ernest Mintah as well as Sector Organization Manager, Madam Reine Dehode. Officials from the IAM, IP also participated in the meeting, further strengthening the collaboration between the ACA and Mozambique’s cashew sector.