The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow, is to visit Maputo, Mozambique (13-15 October) helping ensure that the City of London and the UK remains the regional partner of choice when it comes to financial and professional services.

The Lord Mayor, acting as ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services, will be meeting with Prime Minister Carlos Agustinho do Rosario, other senior members of the government and business leaders.

The Lord Mayor will also meet with the Investment Promotion Centre to better understand the government’s approach to direct foreign investment, meet with representatives from the Mozambique Stock Exchange, host a roundtable with energy stakeholders looking at the opportunities in the sector and meet with leading banks and professional services firms to get an update on market opportunities in the country.

Speaking ahead of his trip, Lord Mayor Yarrow said:

“Mozambique is a country full of economic opportunity. It truly is on the cusp of becoming the fastest-growing economy in Africa due to its sizeable investment opportunities in natural resources such as gas, coal, agriculture, and fisheries.

“But in order to sustain economic growth, which is expected to be around seven per cent this year, it will need to attract considerable foreign investment and foster a beneficial business environment. My visit will helpfully do just this and connect UK businesses to potential financial partners in the future.”

Notes to editors

About the Lord Mayor of the City of London

• The Lord Mayor is head of the Square Mile’s City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).

• The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister.

• The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.