Mozambique, one of China's main partners in south-eastern Africa, continues to face challenges in the technical and vocational training of its young population. With approximately 33 million inhabitants and one of the youngest populations in Africa, the country has a secondary school completion rate of around 40%, due to the limited coverage of technical and vocational education. This situation has contributed to a shortage of qualified labour in areas such as electricity, mechanics, refrigeration and mining technology.

Against this backdrop, the Yuxiao Group, based in Jinan, China, and three of its subsidiaries in Mozambique — Africa Great Wall Mining Development Company Limited, Cronus Minerals Lda. and Mozambique Heavysand Company Lda. — have been supporting young Mozambicans through overseas scholarships and vocational training programmes since 2015.

In 2024, Mozambique Heavysand Company Lda. provided technical training to 30 young Mozambicans, covering the costs of tuition fees, accommodation and subsistence allowances. The majority of the participants were subsequently integrated into the company, working in the areas of electricity, mechanics, refrigeration and accounting.

According to data released by the company, approximately 200 young people have benefited from the Yuxiao Group's educational programmes since 2015. The geographical coverage has expanded from the Chinde district to the 22 districts of Zambézia province.

The initiative has also evolved from a project run by a single subsidiary into a co-operation between three companies within the group, with the aim of responding to local needs in technical sectors related to mining, mechanics, refrigeration and automotive maintenance.

(Source: Mozambique Information Agency, on 13 May)