Mozambique’s national tuna agency Ematum wants to increase exports to China, reports China Daily newspaper.

“China has enormous potential for us,” António do Rosário, head of Ematum, told the newspaper.

He added: “We are more than keen to establish contact with the Chinese tuna market.”

China has announced an investment of US$120 million in the modernisation of the port of Beira. Mr Rosário said this “is crucial” to help develop Mozambique’s tuna industry, currently based in Maputo, the country’s capital.

“We catch tuna with just 24 ships, but we should not stop there – there is a huge opportunity for growth, so our capacity can increase a lot,” he added.