As part of the partnership between the Portuguese Diaspora Council and Jornal de Negócios, Patricia Teles, CEO of Print4You Mozambique and Counselor of the Africa Regional Hub, was interviewed by Jornal de Negócios. In the interview, Patricia Teles discussed her professional journey and identified competitive opportunities for Portugal, its economy, companies, and entrepreneurs in general.

1- WHAT LED YOU TO LEAVE PORTUGAL?

A combination of personal and professional factors. Professionally, I was looking for better opportunities to develop my activity; in addition, I was an entrepreneur from an early age and wanted to discover other cultures and ways of living: I found in Mozambique everything I wanted.

I was looking for a stimulating challenge and an environment where I could contribute with innovative solutions, where I could broaden my horizons and acquire new knowledge and skills. Mozambique has expanded my view of the world and made me a more adaptable and resilient person.

2- WHAT ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES DID BEING PORTUGUESE BRING YOU?

Nationality is a valuable asset. Among the advantages, the language, which facilitates the creation of a basis of trust in interactions, while the sociocultural and historical heritage, create a fertile ground for partnerships.

The network of contacts and the Portuguese community abroad helped me integrate. Portugal’s reputation for its businessmen and numerous success stories, as well as good diplomatic relations, contribute greatly to credibility.

3- WHAT OBSTACLES DID YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME AND HOW DID YOU DO IT?

When I first came to Mozambique to prospect for the market, I brought an idea of facilities. Fortunately, my pragmatism and experience helped me to quickly adjust expectations: I realized that there were, yes, opportunities, but that I would have to create a few others. However, I admired the country immensely and quickly imagined myself living in Mozambique.

I had to completely change my initial business model. I was forced to reinvent myself and adjust, which allowed me to build a solid company; But, at the time, it meant taking a lot of risks. Reading the market with great insight is a determining factor and requires a careful analysis of local needs and constant adaptation to challenges.

Another relevant challenge was the need to gain the trust of local managers and companies. The market is very selective in relation to companies and entrepreneurs who are not truly rooted in the country, and I proved to be truly committed to Mozambique, in a very long-term perspective, which allowed me to consolidate relationships and open doors. Building my affirmation in the market implied that I demonstrated to be a solid and competent manager. I have proven, with work and results, that I have the ability to lead and conduct business effectively.

To overcome all these challenges, I relied on my determination, resilience and a support network that I built. Each challenge faced and overcome strengthened my connection with Mozambique and revalidated my decision to settle here. Today, I see each obstacle overcome as an important pillar of the solid and respected company I was able to build.

4- WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT THE COUNTRY YOU ARE IN?

It is, without a doubt, its people, the hospitality, resilience and joy of Mozambicans, characteristics that are contagious and inspiring. The cultural richness is vast, with a multiplicity of traditions, languages and artistic practices that reflect the ethnic diversity of the country. In addition, the idiosyncrasy of Mozambique, with its fusion of African, Portuguese, Indian and Arab influences, creates a unique cultural melting pot that enriches daily life in the country. It is this combination of factors that makes Mozambique such a special and captivating place.

5- WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT THE COMPANY/ORGANIZATION YOU ARE IN?

There are a lot of things I admire about my company, Print4You Mozambique. It is a Managed Print Services company, founded with the vision of being a leader in its sector of activity, and we have grown and evolved thanks to several qualities that I deeply value. First and foremost, the people, who are the heart of our organization. I admire our team’s resilience, humility and brilliant ability to adapt. The unwavering ability to embrace change, supporting technology implementation and process improvement, is truly admirable. The collaborative spirit is another strength: our teams work internally in a harmonious and interdependent manner, but they also actively cooperate with our customers’ teams. This collaboration strengthens our relationships and mutual trust.

The reputation and trust we have earned in the marketplace are critical to our success. I am very proud of the long cycles of relationship with our customers, showing the satisfaction and trust they place in our services and our ability to meet their expectations. Our dedication to delivering excellence has allowed us to gain a prominent place in the market.

6- WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD YOU GIVE TO PORTUGAL AND ITS ENTREPRENEURS AND MANAGERS?

Firstly, I would say that investing in Africa is smart; that they should make investments in strategic and long-term sectors, just as the Portuguese State should invest heavily in diplomacy.

It is essential to underline that Africa, and particularly Mozambique, presents a dynamic growth scenario, both economic and demographic, which must be taken advantage of. According to recent data, Africa is the second most populous continent, and its population is expected to double by 2050. This demographic growth is accompanied by an increase in the young and qualified workforce, which represents a unique opportunity for Portuguese entrepreneurs.

The stagnation of population growth in Europe, and the consequent lack of skilled labour, highlights the need for entrepreneurs to diversify their geographical focus of investment. However, as in the rest of the world, it is also not possible to look at Africa with short-term goals: it is imperative to develop a consistent and resilient long-term plan, particularly in Mozambique, where constancy and adaptation to local realities are crucial for success.

In addition to the potential for skilled labor, Mozambique has “endless” natural resources and significant economic potential, demonstrated by its continuous growth in various sectors and its strategic position in Southern Africa. I believe that Mozambique has all the conditions to significantly increase its capacity to attract foreign investment in the coming years.

Portugal should encourage robust economic diplomacy between Portugal and Mozambique – ensuring favourable and sustainable conditions for investments – and invest in the creation of bilateral business councils, trade missions and specific trade fairs, which can catalyse the relationship between Portuguese and Mozambican companies.

7- IN WHICH SECTORS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU LIVE CAN PORTUGUESE COMPANIES FIND CUSTOMERS?

Above all, it is essential to understand the context of Mozambique, its potential, as well as its limitations and needs. Companies in Mozambique have high expectations regarding the quality and consistency of the products and services offered. In addition, they value a collaborative approach and “patient” capital – that is, an investment with a long-term vision.

The financial sector, services, metalworking, beverages, or construction, are attractive sectors, but I could extend the list. In all these sectors there are reference and hugely successful Portuguese companies, but I would highlight the following: Agriculture (a huge territory, extremely fertile, and with competitive production costs, available labor), Agroindustry (it is clearly the sector where I would bet the most), Industry in general and Services (especially in the field of technologies).

8- IN WHICH SECTORS IN PORTUGAL COULD COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU ARE WANT TO INVEST?

My experience and intuition suggest to me that Mozambican investors should focus on sectors for which Mozambique has a high growth potential and which in Portugal show consistent results. In this sense, tourism is undoubtedly a strategic sector. Portugal, despite the many constraints, has grown immensely, offering a quality of tourism that stands out on the international scene. Construction is another sector that I would highlight. Finally, agriculture and agribusiness present numerous opportunities and guarantees of safe investment. Each of these sectors complements Mozambique’s natural resources and capabilities, and would benefit from the experience and innovation developed in Portugal.

9- WHAT IS THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE COUNTRY YOU ARE IN THAT COULD BE REPLICATED IN PORTUGAL?

Of Mozambique’s many competitive advantages that could be replicated in Portugal, I highlight government initiatives and incentives – policies favorable to foreign investment and efforts to improve infrastructure and the business environment. Portugal must strengthen its competitiveness, attracting more and better investment, in many areas, of which I would highlight the services and technology sector, attracting and retaining talent!

10- ARE YOU THINKING OF RETURNING TO PORTUGAL? WHY?

At the moment, I don’t plan to return to Portugal definitively. I have in Mozambique my main base of friends and I am completely absorbed by the growth dynamics of my company as well as the commitments I make to our clients.