Maputo port invites freight forwarders to set up shop

The port of Maputo is
encouraging freight
forwarders to set up office
in the Mozambican capital in
order to take advantage of spare
import capacity.
“We want more imports, and
forwarders control the port of
entry,” says Jorge Ferraz, chief
executive officer of the Maputo
Port Development Company
(MPDC).
Ferraz is urging freight
forwarders to re-evaluate
their traditional routes and
to consider the rapidly
growing port of Maputo as
an alternative. First movers
and their clients will be at an
advantage, he believes.
The MPDC is planning to
invest US$750 million in the
port’s infrastructure over the
next 20 years in order to grow
breakbulk export volumes to
50 million tons.
“With increased volumes
that will increase to a billion
dollars,” he says confidently.
This is in addition to the
US$250 million already
invested in the Maputo and
Matola terminals.
Container capacity is
currently around 150 000 TEUs
a year, with about 25% of traffic
being transit cargo.
Spare capacity in the
container terminal provides
shipping companies with the
opportunity to “bring cargo
bound for Nacala and Beira here
rather than Durban,” he says.
Increased capacity in the
container terminal is currently
being considered through
reconfiguration of the quayside
facilities.
Most importantly, according
to Ferraz, is the attitude of the
port authorities and the staff
working there.
“Our staff is motivated and
encouraged to share ideas and
opinions with management at
regular meetings. That way we
can identify problems early, and
find solutions quickly,” he says.
Progress is also being made
with the customs authorities for
the review of the transhipment
and transit Customs regulations
in order to make them more
flexible and to address the need
to facilitate and grow trade.