After investing heavily into “hard” port infrastructure and the dredging of the approach channels and berths, the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) is now focusing on “softer” investment in people and shared facilities to make it more of a people’s port.
“We are strengthening the bonds between the city and the port,” says the MPDC’s Soraia Abdula. New investments include the building of a passenger terminal with a multi-purpose customs hall, a training centre, and the conversion of a building to an art gallery.
The operations offices have been moved out of the secure area of the port to one that is more readily accessible. This helps reduce the number of people entering the port in accordance with ISPS and safety regulations as the daily operations meetings are now held outside of the restricted area.
The multi-purpose customs hall is attached to a new staff canteen, and can be used for a variety of functions, as well as training. Access from the city will be via a separate and fenced-off walkway to ensure that the leisure and operational aspects of the port are kept separate. All the facilities are repurposed warehouses and formerly disused buildings.
The building housing operations also has a number of training rooms and an auditorium. It faces onto Avenida Mártires de Inhaminga, which is also being revitalised through a partnership between the city and port. There are plans to turn the plaza and historic area at the port entrance into a tourism special economic zone, which will offer goods and services tax free to foreign tourists.
Tourist attractions in the precinct include the original fort, fishing and money museums and the railway station and museum.
Loading of bulk in the port of Maputo.
