SA-Moz MoU - no joint ventures at this stage

The planned co-operation agreement between SA’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and Mozambique’s Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) is likely to focus on the key areas of training and technical assistance, Dave Rennie, MD of Grindrod Freight Services, told FTW. “Thereafter we will need to see what arises,” he added. “But at this stage we are definitely not looking at joint ventures of any type.” A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two bodies before the end of this year. The TNPA is the landlord authority that provides port infrastructure and marinerelated services at the eight commercial sea ports in SA and MPDC is a national private company, which results from a partnership between the Mozambique ports and railway company (CFM), Grindrod and DP World. One area of collaboration is said to be the segregation of MPDC into Port Authority and Port Operations. Others are the transition from road to rail, nautical matters, training of operational and engineering staff and the like. “Regional integration is in line with Transnet’s market demand strategy (MDS),” said Tau Morwe, CE of TNPA, “reviewing Transnet’s role in the development of the North-South corridor, and signing of MoUs between African countries, including training and skills development.”