Mozambique Cotton Manufacturers (MCM), yarn producer in partnership with three Portuguese companies, plans to invest about US$35 million to set up weaving, dyeing, stitching and other support facilities to expand the textile business and will export these textile goods to newer export markets on the African continent, according to a statement issued in Maputo.

MCM, consisting of Mozambican companies Intelec Holdings and Portuguese companies Mundotêxtil, Mundifios and Crispim Abreu, has invested nearly US$20 million for the installation and operation of the units, and the amount now announced will serve mainly to add weaving, dyeing, sewing and other support equipment.

The cotton used by MCM is provided by Plexus, a company present in the province of Cabo Delgado that aggregates the production of small farmers, Olam in Manica and Sofala, small operators in the centre of the country and across the country the João Ferreira dos Santos Group.

The Director-General of MCM, André Vieira, said that the company is currently exporting 100% of production to Portugal and South Africa and is considering expansion to countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Vieira also mentioned the US market, a country with which Mozambique has an agreement to facilitate exports.