From 14–17 September 2026, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), in collaboration with the National Food Institute (NFI), the Royal Thai Embassy in Maputo, and the Instituto para a Promoção das Pequenas e Médias Empresas (IPEME), organized a seafood processing training programme at the Escola Superior de Desenvolvimento Rural (ESUDER), Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, in Vilankulo, the Republic of Mozambique.

The project received partial financial support from PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), reflecting Thailand’s Public–Private Partnership (PPP) approach, bringing together the public sector, academia, and the private sector to promote sustainable community development.

The training brought together 38 participants, including fishers, ESUDER lecturers and students. The programme focused on practical knowledge that could be applied and further developed at the community level, covering food processing and preservation, food safety standards, solar-powered drying technology, packaging development, and seafood product development. Participants also gained hands-on experience in developing a range of seafood products, including salted fish, sweetened fish, fish crackers, and dried squid.

On 18 September 2026, Lt. Sorawud Preededilok, Minister attached to TICA, together with H.E. Mr. Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of Mozambique, representatives of ESUDER and IPEME, and the trainees, attended the closing ceremony and handover of the Project on Thailand–Mozambique Seafood Processing Incubator. Certificates were also presented to the successful trainees. On the occasion, the Thai side handed over solar-powered dryers and equipment for the establishment of the Thailand–Mozambique Seafood Processing Centre, supporting the practical application of the knowledge and skills gained through the training.

Both sides underscored the importance of making continued use of the knowledge and equipment, while expanding the benefits to local communities and entrepreneurs. The initiative will support product development, market access, job creation, and income generation, with the aim of establishing the Centre as an important mechanism for furthering Thailand–Mozambique cooperation and contributing to the sustainable development of Mozambique’s local economy.