Project to speed up clearance on Moz/SA border moves ahead

JOY ORLEK
PLANS TO establish a dry port at Ressano Garcia in Mozambique are at an advanced stage according to that country’s Customs chief Antonio Barros dos Santos.
It’s part of a concerted effort to speed up the clearance of goods from South Africa, including its exports through the port of Maputo, he said.
“Port design and a preliminary viability study have already been concluded and the Mozambican authorities are now discussing technical details and costs of the project.”
He said negotiations between the customs authorities of the two countries on how the dry port would function had also begun. The next round of discussions would be at government level.
The creation of the dry port, which could begin operating this year, would boost the efficiency of the Maputo Development Corridor, said Dos Santos.
Mozambican Customs is also planning a one-stop-shop at the international vehicle terminal TIAUTO in the capital Maputo.