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As part of its actions to reaffirm itself in the market and as one of the main banks operating in Mozambique, Moza marked its fifteenth anniversary in June with an increase of more than one billion meticais in its share capital.

With this increase, the share capital of Moza now stands at MZN 7,020,750,000.00 (over 7 billion meticais), which has allowed the bank to reaffirm its strategic position in the market, paving the way to a promising future.

In the last few months, counting from July last year, Moza Banco has witnessed some changes and implemented important decisions to consolidate its presence in the financial sector and face the new challenges imposed by various conjunctural factors.

The Bank now has an even more slender and cohesive shareholder structure, consisting mostly of Mozambican investment, which makes Moza a bank that "Makes it Happen". In fact, for 15 years Moza has demonstrated proactivity, confidence, resilience and engagement in its relentless pursuit and delivery of innovative and necessary financial solutions for its customers. While imperative changes occur to update and streamline the Bank's organizational structure, Moza has kept an unwavering commitment to transformation and quality assurance in the delivery of its products and services.

With the renewed intention of permanently improving the user experience, Moza is working to expand its commercial activities, enhance its branch network, invest in digitalisation, and offer personalised solutions based on knowledge, strategic vision, financial solidity, and social responsibility. The main objective is to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of its customers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.

According to Moza's Chairperson of the Board of Directors (PCA), João Figueiredo, "the positive and encouraging results of recent financial years, particularly that of 2022, are an unequivocal sign of the Bank's ability to evolve in a solid and sustainable manner.” The coming years will be complex and challenging, requiring exemplary team spirit and engagement from all employees.

"With the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the transformation projects underway, the Bank believes it has the necessary ingredients to thrive and achieve the success it targets. By celebrating its 15th anniversary, Moza Banco expresses its gratitude to employees, customers, and shareholders, reaffirming its commitment to repay the trust deposited and contribute to the sustainable development of Mozambique," the PCA highlighted, during the Bank's 15th anniversary celebration ceremony held recently in Maputo.

The 15th anniversary of Moza was marked in a festive atmosphere, which saw largely the participation of customers and employees with 15 years of relationship with the Bank.

In 2022 Moza Banco consolidated its main indicators and maintained growth trends in line with previous years, a fact supported by the confidence shown by its customers and the market.

 The Management Report and Financial Statements, discussed on 28 April 2023, during the Session of the Ordinary General Meeting, indicates that the bank has bucked the trend of the global economy that in 2022 was considerably impacted by accelerating price levels, slowing growth rates in the world economy, as well as the negative repercussions of military conflicts.

 The bank showed a significant improvement in its profitability and efficiency ratios in 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) reached positive 1.26% and 0.05%, respectively, compared to negative 9.83% and 0.4% in 2021.

 As regards prudential ratios, the solvency ratio remained stable, standing at 22.58% at the end of 2022, compared to 23.21% in 2021. The liquidity ratio reached 47.41% in 2022, an improvement of 2.91pp compared to 2021, remaining above the regulatory requirements set by the regulator.

 In 2022, the bank recorded balanced growth in deposit-taking, with an increase of 8% (MZN 2.6 billion) compared to the previous financial year, which highlights continued investment and confidence from customers in Moza and the Bank's Relational approach. Total assets also grew in this direction, showing an increase of 6% (MZN 2.6 billion).

 In 2022 alone, Moza Banco registered a notable growth, of approximately 27%, in the number of Customers, placing the total at 215,864.

The institution's operating efficiency remained positive, reflected in a cost-to-income ratio that stood at 74.30%, which reflects the positive effect of the ongoing strategy of optimisation and rationalisation of operating costs and investments.

 The efficient performance of the institution led to the generation of positive results amounting to MZN 326 million, contrary to the negative MZN 1.3 billion figure which had been recorded in the previous year. As a consequence of the aforementioned measures, as well as the significant increase in the volume of transactions with customers, the Bank recorded a positive net result after tax of MZN 90 million.

 The Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of Moza Banco, Dr João Figueiredo, highlighted that "in a challenging macroeconomic context and with rising interest rates, the Bank contributed towards the growth of the economy through the granting of financing, ensuring due prudence in line with the Bank's strategy, given the context of increasing non-performing loans in the system". "We will continue to focus on strengthening policies and instruments to guarantee effective and efficient management, ensuring best practices in risk management and compliance."

2022 was also marked by the approval and start of implementation of the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, a guiding instrument which sets out the Bank's guidelines for action in the period in question. The Plan also includes guidelines to support activities, focusing on customer relations and the Bank's sustainability.

 In line with the defined strategy and as a way of reaffirming the confidence in and commitment to the Moza project, in December 2022, the Bank's shareholders approved a share capital increase operation of MZN 1.1245 billion.

 It is important to mention that a line of funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), of USD 10 million, was recently approved, aimed at supporting the Bank's credit activity. This initiative is a sign of the confidence this prestigious financial institution places in Moza Banco.

Moza Banco has just extended the deadlines for the submission of journalistic works, within the framework of the 2nd Edition of the Moza Banco Journalism Prize, launched in December last year.

Under the theme: "Mozambicans who matter: Example of resilience, justice and development for the country", the competition aims to encourage media professionals to investigate, produce and publish articles that contribute to the demonstration of what is best in Mozambique, generating positive impact on society and rewarding excellence in journalistic activity in the social, cultural and sports areas.

With the extension, journalists have until 31 October to submit their work. Initially, the deadline had been 31 March this year.

"The extension of the deadline for receiving nominations aims to allow room for the participation of the entire journalist profession. We understand that this is an opportunity for a wide discussion of this issue, which is of capital importance for Mozambican society. We want to see inspiring stories that symbolise the genuine contribution to the development of our young nation", the Director of Marketing and Communication at Moza Banco, João de Almeida Mota, said.

The award for the best work published by the national media covers three categories: Written Press, Radio and Television.

This is an initiative where original works by professional journalists, or a collective of journalists, duly signed and published/issued in Portuguese in a Mozambican media outlet between 1 October 2022 and 31 October 2023 and those portraying the various facets of the Mozambican reality, may apply.

It is worth mentioning that as part of the joint efforts to reduce GBV levels, Moza Banco launched the competition in 2021 for journalists who have authored articles on GBV in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Moza Banco is the sponsor of the 5th edition of the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize,  promoted by the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation (FFLC) and which aims to discover the new talents of Mozambican literature, in the genres of narrative prose fiction, drama text, literary essay and poetry.

The press conference took place on March 17^th at the Foundation's headquarters in Maputo, to announce the opening of applications for this edition of the Prize, an event which was attended by representatives of the organizer and partners, namely FFLC, Moza Banco and the Camões Institute.

Speaking during the Press Conference, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Moza Banco highlighted the importance of the award which promotes literary creation in the country and the emergence of new Mozambican authors.

Moza Banco recognises the value of literature and its contribution to the preservation and enhancement of culture, history and national identity. By embracing this project and granting this support, the Bank hopes to praise and exalt the legacy of the Foundation's patron, a figure whose career and work history is responsible for elevating, as well as inspiring the emergence of talents among young people, rewarding those young people who stand out in the area of literary creation, he stated.

Moza Banco’s sponsorship, which began in the 4th edition, consists specifically in the attribution of awards to the winners for the monetary amount of 150,000.00 MZN, as well as in printing the winning works.

The 5th edition of the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Award is dedicated to poetry works and the inscriptions take place from March 17th to April 16th, with the announcement of the winner set to be announced in June.

The Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize is a literary award established by the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation in 2017. In its debut in 2017, the winner of the Prize was Macvildo Bonde, with the book A DESCRIÇÃO DAS SOMBRAS, the 2018 edition had no winner in the novel category. Otildo Justino Guido was the winner in 2019, of the 3rd edition, with the book O SILENCIO DA PELE. Maya Ângela Macuácua and Geremias Mendoso were the winners of the 4th edition with DIAMANTES PRETOS NO MEIO DE CRISTAIS and QUANDO OS MOCHOS PIAM, respectively.

The launch ceremony of the book "GEBA, Onde o Tâmega desaguou no Índico" (GEBA, Where the Tâmega flows into the Indian Ocean), took place on March 16th, at the Headquarters of the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation in Maputo, counting on the sponsorship of Moza Banco within the scope of its social responsibility policy.

This is a novel that proposes to the reader a trip in time and space, as the title suggests. It portrays the difficult life of a young couple, Augusto and Alice, who find themselves forced to leave Chaves, on the banks of the river Tâmega in Portugal, to embrace new challenges with the North Mozambique Cotton Company, specifically in Geba, Memba district, beside the warm and crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean.

Alongside the book’s author, the multifaceted writer and visual artist Miguel César, the book presentation event was attended by Mozambican writer Mia Couto, Director of the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation, Moza Banco’s CEO, Manuel Soares, among other guests.

Speaking at the event, Manuel Soares, reiterated the commitment of the institution he heads in supporting national literature for its important role in the transmission of knowledge and culture of a society.

“Moza Banco's sponsorship of the publication of this work is part of the Bank's commitment to promoting Mozambican literature, as we recognise its value and contribution to preserving and valuing culture, history and national identity. As a Bank made by Mozambicans, for Mozambicans, we have an added responsibility to promote and extol the best that Mozambique has and does in various fields," he said.

Soares also highlighted the importance of the partnership with the Fernando Leite Couto Foundation started in 2019, which has contributed to the promotion of literary creation, through support for book publishing, and other artistic-cultural activities of high social impact.

It should be noted that under this partnership, several works have already been published among new and established authors, including: "O Terrorista Elegante", "Mapeador de Ausências", "A Espada e a Azagaia", by the writer Mia Couto; "Diamantes pretos no meio de cristais" and "Quando os mochos piam", by Maya Macuácua and Geremias Mendoso respectively, both young winners of the 2022 edition of the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize, also sponsored by Moza.