After the end of Portuguese colonial period, Mozambique had an economic structure characterized by asymmetry between the north and south of the country and also between country and city. These are marks left by the colonial regime which are characterized by the oppression of labour.
The development strategy undertaken to reverse this asymmetry gave rise to a centrally planned socialist economy. However, the unfavourable regional and international conjunctures, natural disasters and an internal military conflict that lasted 16 years have prevented such desires. The external debt (about 5.5 billion in 1995) forced the country to a radical shift towards a strategy of market development by joining the Bretton Woods Institutions and the consequent adoption a Structural Adjustment Programme, starting in 1987. Since then, the country has been recording remarkable economic growth. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been growing at an average above 8.7% per year, even at levels of 2 digits. Inflation is below 10%. The tendency is to keep it in single digits. In monetary terms, Mozambique has one of the most liberalized exchange rate regimes in Africa. The external business partners have reason enough to inspire great confidence for the country given the ability of monetary authorities have managed to maintain adequate amounts of means of payment on the outside. The Central Bank's foreign reserves have been located up to six months of imports of goods and services. The country is recorded in indicators such as the "Doing Business", World Bank, up 15 places in the last three years.
The State, through the implementation of their fiscal policy regulates and stimulates the areas most important socio-economic and creates through programs undertaken by various sectors of public administration and a favourable business environment for the development of private sector initiative. Legal reforms in the financial law, tax, labour, commercial and land taken by the Government end up contributing significantly to strengthen this good atmosphere with its attracting local and foreign private investment.
The economic potential of the country to attract investment in agro-industry, agriculture, tourism, fishing and mining is enormous. Projects such as Mozal, Vale, Cahora Bassa, Iron Runners-Port and resorts throughout the country have been contributing significantly to place Mozambique on the route of the major regional and international investments.
Under the facilitation and improvement of business environment in Mozambique, through the introduction of new Information Technology Systems, Customs of Mozambique intends to reduce the costs of doing business in Mozambique with the implementation of the Electronic Single Window system, which is an electronic tool for customs clearance that will make the process faster by reduced costs.