On November 2, 2026, Standard Bank and the Câmara de Petróleo e Gás de Moçambique (CPGM) signed a strategic partnership in Maputo to promote the capacity building and integration of Mozambican micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the energy sector's value chains. This partnership aims to strengthen the technical, financial, and organizational capacities of national companies, enabling them to access financing solutions suitable for their needs and connect with key industry operators.
Márcia Karim, Director of Commercial and Business Banking at Standard Bank, emphasized that the success of national companies participating in large energy projects depends on an integrated approach combining business capacity building, access to financing, and effective market linkage. She noted that financing alone is not sufficient and that an integrated approach is necessary. The bank's Business Incubator has been promoting training programs, certification preparation, and connections between national companies and large economic operators since its inception in 2017.
Between 2021 and 2024, Standard Bank conducted five editions of the iCreate program, which had around 120 participants from various sectors. In 2025, the bank organized a workshop on integrating SMEs into the oil and gas ecosystem, as well as online and hybrid masterclasses that benefited over 1,600 participants. Additionally, it launched the EMPREENDA digital platform, which provides 28 business capacity-building modules free of charge.
João Guirengane, Director of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank, highlighted the importance of promoting local content and strengthening the participation of national companies in the energy sector's supply chains. He stated that the true impact of these investments should be measured not only by their financial dimension but also by their ability to develop skills, strengthen national companies, and ensure that a growing share of the generated value remains in the Mozambican economy.
Florival Mucave, President of the Câmara de Petróleo e Gás de Moçambique's Board of Directors, praised the crucial role of the financial sector in strengthening Mozambican business participation in the energy industry. He emphasized that no national SME can significantly participate in the oil and gas industry without financial capacity and that financial institutions like Standard Bank play a vital role in creating bridges between technical suppliers and access to necessary financial resources.
The memorandum of understanding between Standard Bank and the Câmara de Petróleo e Gás de Moçambique aims to promote local content development, increase national company competitiveness, and ensure that energy investment benefits translate into more employment, economic growth, and value generation for Mozambique. The partnership seeks to prepare a growing number of national companies to respond to large project requirements and participate sustainably in the Mozambican energy sector's development.
Through this partnership, Standard Bank and the Câmara de Petróleo e Gás de Moçambique intend to contribute to the growth of Mozambican SMEs in the energy sector. The collaboration combines Standard Bank's financial expertise with the CPGM's sectoral knowledge and proximity to industry stakeholders, creating favorable conditions for new business opportunities and financing mechanisms tailored to SMEs' realities.
Key points
- Standard Bank and Câmara de Petróleo e Gás de Moçambique partner to boost SME participation in Mozambique's energy sector.
- The partnership aims to promote local content development and increase national company competitiveness.
- The collaboration combines financial expertise with sectoral knowledge to create new business opportunities and financing mechanisms for SMEs.
