Thailand-based Minor Hotel Group has partnered with Dubai-based Rani Investment, owner of high-end resorts in Africa, to buy Indigo Bay Resort & Spa in Mozambique.

The partners have plans for further expansion in Africa, according to a report in ArabianBusiness.com.

Located on Bazaruto Island, 18 miles off the east coast of Mozambique, Indigo Bay is a five-star, 44-villa resort. It will be re-branded as Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa later this year and managed by Minor Hotel Group, the report said.

Rani is the largest private hospitality owner-operator in Mozambique, entering the market in 1999 under the Rani Resorts name.

This new addition raises Minor’s portfolio to 94 properties doing business in 13 countries.

The partners hope to do more business in Mozambique including in the capital Maputo and in the East Africa market.

These properties will be a mix of new-build and re-brand and will be flagged with Minor’s international hotel brands, including Anantara, the recently launched contemporary upscale brand AVANI and the serviced apartment Oaks brand.

Rani is the investment arm of Aujan Group Holding with more than $300 million invested in the Middle East and Africa.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor, said: “We are already present in Tanzania and Kenya through our partnership with Elewana Collection and we are keen to expand further into other parts of this vast continent where there is so much untapped opportunity.”

Salim Bitar, CEO, Rani Investment, added: “As we embark on the next phase of our expansion in Africa, we are delighted to be working alongside internationally recognized hospitality brands such as Minor, which will enable us to contribute to and capitalize on the success of the country’s rapidly growing economy.”