By Daily Times Reporter
For Marina Schmatova, a Russian expat based in the UAE, the COVID-19 pandemic was not just a period of isolation and despair—it was a catalyst for transformation, a journey of self-discovery that led her to find love, purpose, and meaning in the most unexpected of places.
In an interview with Daily Times Newspaper, Marina revealed that on one of her business trips in Africa, Mozambique when Covid restrictions took effect, she found herself surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells she had only dreamt of.
For more than 2 and half years, she immersed herself in the local communities, eager to learn from those whose resilience and strength inspired her.
“In 2019, during one of my business visits to Africa, I was closed due to covid restrictions. For almost 2 and a half years, I was lucky enough to live and work there, get to know people and the region, not as a business partner, but as an integral part of it. Breathe the same air and fall in love with it”, said Marina an experienced investor.
Having been submerged in the African community, Marina decided to start build a school with a capacity of 4000 in Ooroje village in Beira, Mozambique with the help of her family charitable foundation Nia Safi.
“I will name the construction of a school for 4,000 students in Ooroje Beira, Mozambique, as the main project of 2023. This is an initiative of my family charitable foundation Nia Safi and our like—minded individuals’, added Marina.
Asked on other projects that the fund was initiating, Marina said they are constructing three waste recycling plants which uses thermal and decomposition or pyrolysis.
“If we talk about business projects, then of course it is the construction of three waste recycling plants, where we use the method of processing and recycling industrial waste by thermal decomposition or pyrolysis. And right now, our partners and I have conducted the final tests of the equipment for the new waste recycling complex and will soon begin transporting it to the assembly site in Africa, Johannesburg’, she explained.
The African Investment Fund has emerged as a cornerstone of not only Mozambique but Africa’s financial ecosystem, channeling capital into promising ventures and nurturing budding enterprises.
Yet, Marina’s vision transcends beyond mere profit-seeking. Recognizing the imperatives of climate change and the untapped potential of renewable resources, she has pivoted towards sustainable energy solutions, leveraging Mozambique’s abundant natural assets.
With an unwavering commitment to social responsibility, she has become a catalyst for change across the African continent. Her renewable energy initiatives offer a blueprint for sustainable development in emerging economies, garnering accolades from environmentalists and policymakers alike.
Indeed, Marina continues to chart a course towards a more prosperous and sustainable future, leaving an indelible legacy of ingenuity and compassion in her wake.
