African businesses are checking out Russia’s motor vehicle production. Mozambique’s companies are especially interested in the Lada Niva and UAZ vehicles, said Ambassador of Mozambique to Russia Mario Saraiva Ngwenya. The new partners are counting on the assistance of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in building business relations.
During a meeting with the head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergei Katyrin, Mario Saraiva Ngwenya emphasized that the production of AvtoVAZ and UAZ is well-known in his country and used to be in great demand. However, the refusal of Russian car makers to produce the export version of right-hand drive cars (Mozambique uses left-hand traffic) curtailed the cooperation.
The government of Mozambique has recently allowed drivers to use both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles, and the issue of purchasing Russian vehicles has again become relevant.
Car exports will be discussed during the Mozambique-Russia Business Forum, which will take place in August during the visit by President of the Republic of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi to Russia. Russia is currently exporting foods and agricultural products to Mozambique; in 2018, exports accounted for $95.4 mio, or 0.02% of Russia’s total exports.