Mozambique Company
The Companhia de Moçambique, German: Mozambique Company, was a royal company in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, which was licensed in the area of present-day provinces of Manica and Sofala.
The company was established in February 1891 with a capital of £ 40,000, almost $ 5 million by donors from Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Soon dominated British and French capital.
The concession was granted for a period of 50 years, in which the company could take advantage of local resources and manpower. The Company has been granted the exclusive right to collect taxes, they received 25 years tax exemption. In return, the Portuguese State should receive 7.5% of earnings and 10 % of the issued shares. Furthermore, the company should 1000 Portuguese families settle in their area and provide for education and public administration.
In fact, the company only made partially from their granted rights, and in turn met only a fraction of their obligations. With their limited capital resources they could do little for the development of the area and achieved the greatest benefits from the exploitation of the labor force on the plantations and estates. Resistance to tighter work obligations and regulations was a reason for rebellions in 1902 and 1917. The company was able to provide their obligations for peace and order not comply and in both cases had to start Portugal expensive interventions.
The Companhia de Moçambique had its headquarters in Beira, where they controlled the public administration and the post offices. She also founded a private bank, the share certificates in pounds spent.
Due to the lack of success and because of a change in the Salazar regime in the concession expires in 1942 was not renewed. The Governor of Manica and Sofala commented:
" They did nothing for the development of the potential wealth of this entire region, preferring to plunder them and to alienate the natives. "
On July 8, 1942, the area of Manica and Sofala was transferred to the responsibility of the Portuguese colonial authorities during the Companhia, now continued its activities in the agricultural and trade sectors under the name of SARL,.
Was born on October 20, 1961 from her Grupo Entreposto Comercial de Moçambique and transformed on 6 September 1972 in a holding company equity capital of other companies such as the Entreposto - Gestão e Participações ( SGPS ) SA.