The Mozambican Tax Authority (AT) recognizes the city of Nacala, Nampula province, as the most important customs territory in the northern region of the country, with an influence of over 85% in all customs tax revenues.

The information was revealed by the commander of the Nacala city tax authority, João Salpiel, when he was talking about the prospects for the future that are opening up with the rehabilitation, expansion and modernization of the port of Nacala, which was reopened on Saturday by the head of the Mozambican state, Filipe Nyusi.

According to João Salpiel, quoted by AIM, this places the province, and particularly the city of Nacala, as a vital customs area for the country's and the region's balance of payments from the point of view of its capacity to collect foreign taxes.

The importance of Nacala's customs duties arises from the fact that the local port is one of the most used for exports in the country, contributing around 80%, an element that plays a major role in the importance of this infrastructure for the country's economy and in the region, given its usefulness for the interland.

"The port is extremely important for the country, especially for the northern zone, because of its influence on the region's overall revenue. Nacala accounts for over 85% of customs revenue in the entire northern region," he said.

According to the source, last year, at customs level, the Tax Authority in Nacala managed to achieve 110% in revenue, corresponding to eight billion meticais. For this year, the target is nine billion meticais, which in principle will be reached next November.

"The port is promising and this will help us to be more flexible in collecting revenue due to the connection the port has with the interland," said the source.

According to Salpiel, with the rehabilitation of the port, the Tax Authority is preparing for more tax revenue, given that Nacala will have a greater interest in the interland, a factor that will require the customs authorities to improve their collection mechanisms in order to respond to the demands of the market.

To make AT operations more flexible within the port, two modern scanner points have been installed, devices that will ensure greater flexibility and AT presence on site.

"With the new equipment, the port will make customs clearance more flexible and boost revenues," he said

With the rehabilitation of the Port of Nacala, an increase in flows is expected and consequently an increase in customs revenue, taking into account that the modernization of port infrastructures will culminate in greater efficiency in cargo handling and an increase in the volume of exports and imports of products to Mozambique, but also cargo in transit to interland.