Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, has called for the Maputo, Beira and Nacala corridors to move beyond their traditional role of moving goods to regional and international markets and instead become drivers of industrialisation, agricultural development and expanded opportunities for domestic businesses, according to the Mozambique News Agency (AIM).

“The Maputo, Beira and Nacala corridors must therefore be understood as true economic development corridors, capable of stimulating industrialisation, energising agriculture, promoting the development of productive zones and deepening regional integration,” the minister said on Wednesday, 14 October, at Macaneta, in the district of Marracuene, Maputo province.

Matlombe was speaking at the opening of the 2nd session of the Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, where he argued that Mozambique’s geographical advantages must translate into concrete gains for the economy through the establishment of industrial units, the expansion of logistics services and the strengthening of the national business sector.

“We must equally ensure that the benefits arising from the modernisation and expansion of infrastructure are reflected in the Mozambican economy through the participation of national companies, job creation, skills transfer and the development of local value chains,” he stressed.

According to the minister, the ports of Maputo, Beira and Nacala — connected to rail and road networks and border crossings — are strategic assets for Mozambique and for neighbouring landlocked countries.

He cautioned, however, that geographical location alone does not guarantee competitiveness. To consolidate the country’s position as a reference logistics platform in Southern Africa, he said it is necessary to modernise infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, ensure reliable services, reduce costs and strengthen coordination among logistics chain stakeholders.

“We must equally ensure that the benefits arising from the modernisation and expansion of infrastructure are reflected in the Mozambican economy through the participation of national companies, job creation, skills transfer and the development of local value chains.” — João Matlombe

Among the priorities highlighted by Matlombe was the conclusion and approval of a roadmap for implementing the new legal framework for the rail sector, which would open the market to additional operators, promote competition and create conditions to mobilise private investment.

He also pointed to the development of strategic concessions in the logistics sector as a means of modernising infrastructure and reinforcing the operational capacity of ports, railways and development corridors. He argued, however, that concession processes must be transparent and based on balanced models, with regulatory and oversight mechanisms that safeguard the public interest and guarantee effective benefits for the national economy.

Another priority identified by the minister is the coordination between ports, railways, roads and border crossings to reduce logistics costs, shorten goods transit times and make services more predictable.

In Matlombe’s view, corridor performance should not be measured solely by cargo volumes handled, but also by the capacity to attract investment, generate employment, develop skills and strengthen national value chains.

“It is not enough to have ports, railways and transport corridors. We need to transform them into engines of competitiveness, industrialisation, regional integration and national development,” he concluded.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=552491