Mozambique`s President Armando Guebuza Wednesday urged the private sector to develop tourism-related businesses to take advantage of opportunities offered by the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

`We make reference to the tourism sector that with its potential there is a need to dynamise the activities of other sectors, mainly to maximise the benefits which will be brought in by the 2010 World Cup to be held in (neighbouring) South Africa,` Guebuza said.

He made the statement when he officially opened a two-day private sector annual conference, organised by the Mozambican Business Confederation (CTA).

He said that the government was willing to assist private companies in the `materialisation of their projects in order to take advantage of the opportunities which are visible on the horizon.`

`The government has taken various measures to facilitate a sustainable tourism activity for both tourists and operators,` he said, without giving details.

The 2010 World Cup will be staged for the first time on the African continent in South Africa, and Mozambique expects to attract at least half of the estimated 600,000 tourists who would be visiting the region during the month-long competition.