AMID THE CRUMBLING grandeur of Mozambique’s capital Maputo, cranes and mechanical diggers rumble, carving out a new skyline. A construction boom is underway, concrete proof of an economic revolution in Mozambique. GDP growth hit 7.4 per cent last year. The country, riven by armed conflict for 15 years (1977-92), is poised to become the world’s biggest coal exporter within the next decade, while the recent discovery of two massive gas fields in its waters has turned the region into an energy hotspot.

A couple of years ago, The Guardian newspaper declared the national currency to be the best performing in the world against the dollar. Investment is pouring in on an unprecedented scale. Almost to prove that history has a sense of irony, it has been reported that the Portuguese, who have been feeling Europe’s economic pain, are moving back to their former colony in search of better prospects than at home.

So there’s no better time to publish a Diplomat magazine report on Mozambique – especially as the country celebrates 40 years of Independence in 2015. The report includes contributions from the High Commissioner in London, Carlos dos Santos, Honory Citizen and Chair of Africa Matters Baroness Chalker Wallasey, the Director General of the Mozambique Investment Promotion Centre, the Director General of Mozambique Tourism Authority and the Governor of the Banco de Moçambique, who was recently declared Africa’s Best Central Bank Governor for 2015 by The Banker magazine. Diplomat even takes a look at the luxury travel options on offer in our travel pages, including the amazing Vamizi Island.

Diplomat has a lovely contribution from the Ambassador of Estonia, who writes our National Day Message as his country celebrates its 97th independence anniversary on 24th February. As always, Diplomat reviews the Credentials of new heads of mission to the Court of St James’s, this month meeting with the Ambassadors of Iceland, Slovenia and Vietnam. For our Portrait page, we photographed the Ambassador of Turkey.

In the lifestyle section, Diplomat reports on The Stafford’s commemoration package to mark the 50-year anniversary of the great statesman’s death, and lunch at the newly-opened Ivy Market Grill. Readers with a taste for culture will find valuable advice in our book and arts reviews, including a beautiful exhibition by Norwegian photographer Anja Niemi at The Little Black Gallery and the BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair, the only event on the international art calendar exclusive to members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association.