Maputo stakeholders address rail, port and border issues

Workgroups kick off in Jo’burg ALAN PEAT APRIL 13 saw the launch by the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) of a series of focus workgroups - with the first of the rail and shipping workgroups having been held in Johannesburg. “The workgroups are intended to come up with possible solutions for high level constraints that were identified in earlier meetings,” said MCLI chief, Brenda Horne. “The focus group on rail will zoom in on the lack of availability and reliability of rail transport services – affecting imports and exports - as well as Spoornet’s delay in fulfilling the Ressano Garcia railway concession.” The intention, she added, is to work with the governments of SA and Mozambique to create a platform – the Spoornet Project - to improve availability and railway services, as well as to communicate progress of concession development. The focus group on shipping concentrated on the lack of continuous, reliable, regular, cost-effective shipping calls – especially for containers – due to inefficiencies on landside transport services. “The objective was to define a strategy and obtain commitment between cargo owners, shipping lines and terminal operators to improve land transport logistics and the timely availability of cargoes to support regular container vessel calls,” Horne said. April will also see the start of focus groups on border issues (cargo clearing) and promotion of the Maputo Corridor. “The border working group,” said Horne, “will concentrate on the high costs as a result of limited opening hours, the lack of harmonised procedures and improved infrastructure as well as operational inefficiencies."