20 •
The Lion King
• April - June 2017
food will also give you unforgettable
experiences. Any Mozambican living
abroad will always miss home and
visitors will want to return sooner than
later.
Which sectors are the best to invest in
in Mozambique today?
It depends on the size of investment;
the country is about to enter into a
significant growth phase, driven by
mega projects in mining and oil & gas.
An investment in these areas and/or its
value chain has guaranteed returns.
These projects will require a lot of sup-
plies from several businesses hence
this is the right time to invest in any of
the sectors in the value chain.
Transport and logistics services are also
strong sectors now given the country
landscape and limited infrastructure.
Trade and FMCG is another sector to
keep an eye on in the coming years,
despite the challenges being faced
now.
With the recent discoveries of huge
reserves of natural gas in the coun-
try, what will doing business in
Mozambique be like in the coming
years?
Full of opportunities but challenging in
GROWING THE SEED
the sense that we will need business-
es that are capable of meeting the
demands that will arise, not only finan-
cially, but expertise, governance and
business practices. Businesses need
to create that capacity now as with
the foreign investors pouring into the
country, the requirements will be very
high for everyone. I envisage a myriad
of opportunities for several businesses
including for the financial sector.
What are you passionate about,
beyond banking?
I’m passionate about self-develop-
ment so I read a lot. I also spend time
on sports, movies and jazz music, not
in any particular order.
Do you have any kids?
I have two, Heloísa who is 17 and
Milan who is 14. They’re a blessing.
How do you joggle work and father-
hood and family life?
My wife is also a
banker so it makes
it easier for them
to understand
the demands
of the job.
We make it
a point to
spend all the
available time
together. Even
if the workload
or travels will
m e a n
The country is
about to enter
into a significant
growth phase,
driven by mega
projects in mining
and oil & gas.
An investment in
these areas and /
or its value chain
has guaranteed
returns...”
spending significant time away, we’ll
compensate for that as soon as pos-
sible with a joint outing or even spend-
ing quality time at home. And make
an effort to be there in their lives as
well, either working on their home-
work, school meetings, or even listen-
ing to their music and watching their
movies.
What did you have as a child that kids
today don’t have?
I think we had to be more creative
and innovative to carry on with our
lives either at school, playing or rela-
tionships. Today with the technology
and immense options kids don’t need
to be so creative to find their way out.
They have other challenges though
and opportunities for growth and
development are bigger now than in
the past.
How has your father’s role in your life
affected the way you play the father
figure for your own kids?
My father was very present, participat-
ing and always pushing for my devel-
opment. Would follow my studies,
check the books I was reading and
so forth. I make all the efforts to do
the same.
What advice do you have for other
fathers out there?
Spend as much time as possible with
your kids and be a role model for
them. As the word goes, kids will
see much more than listen
so whatever you say,
it’s your actions
that they will look
after. And be
present, share a
laugh, if you love
movies, watch
them together,
if you like soc-
cer, follow it with
them.
