Arabfields, Maleeka Kassou, East, West and Central Africa Agriculture Correspondent — Vietnam and Mozambique are seeking to deepen agricultural cooperation, with cashew processing, technology transfer and investment emerging as key priorities as the southern African country looks to capture more value from its agricultural exports.

The renewed push follows a meeting in Maputo on October 23 between Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Thi Thu Thin and Jorge Vidigal Fole, director of the Mozambique Cashew Institute. Discussions focused on strengthening the cashew industry and extending cooperation to coffee, macadamia nuts and other agricultural products.

Mozambique produced approximately 200,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in 2025, of which around 40,000 tonnes were processed domestically. Export revenues from the crop reached nearly $121.6 million, almost three times the level recorded in 2024, according to figures presented by the institute’s director.

The figures highlight both the industry’s growing commercial importance and the challenge facing local producers. With only about one-fifth of output processed domestically, Mozambique has considerable scope to expand its processing capacity and retain a greater share of the value generated along the supply chain.

For farmers and rural communities, the outcome could have practical consequences. More local processing facilities could create jobs, improve demand for harvested nuts and provide opportunities for small producers to participate in a more developed agricultural industry. However, the scale of these benefits will depend on investment, access to equipment, reliable infrastructure and the ability of processors to compete in international markets.

Vietnam, a major player in the global cashew industry, is expected to offer expertise in processing technology, production methods and value-chain development. Both countries are also seeking to encourage investment and establish closer links between businesses and industry organisations.

Mozambique’s longer-term ambitions are outlined in its Cashew Value Chain Development Programme for 2025 to 2034. The strategy targets processing capacity of approximately 482,000 tonnes by 2034, signalling an effort to move beyond the export of largely unprocessed agricultural commodities.

Achieving that objective would require a substantial expansion of industrial capacity, alongside improvements in technical skills, financing and market access. The target also makes the coming years important for determining whether cooperation with Vietnam can translate into concrete projects rather than remain at the level of technical exchanges and diplomatic commitments.

The partnership could extend beyond cashews. Mozambique has expressed interest in working with Vietnam on coffee and macadamia production, including cultivation techniques, processing methods and business connections. Such diversification could help spread commercial opportunities across several agricultural value chains and reduce dependence on individual export products.

The broader economic relationship offers additional scope for cooperation. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Mozambique reached $458.6 million in 2024, according to figures reported in 2026. Although that total covers trade beyond agriculture, it provides an indication of the commercial links available for expansion.

For now, the immediate priority is to strengthen coordination between the Mozambique Cashew Institute and the Vietnam Cashew Association, allowing both sides to exchange information, share technical knowledge and connect potential investors.

The outlook for 2027 and beyond will depend largely on whether those discussions lead to investment commitments, new processing facilities and measurable improvements in domestic production. If progress is sustained, Mozambique could gradually move up the cashew value chain, while Vietnamese companies gain opportunities to expand their commercial and technical presence in Africa.

For the two countries, the test will be whether a promising diplomatic partnership can deliver lasting economic benefits for producers, workers and businesses on the ground.