The government plans to double the amount of cargo handled at national ports from 41 to 81 million tons in four years. The information was presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications at the close of the 39˚ Sector Coordinating Council.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications met between September 29 and October 1 in Bilene, Gaza province, at the 39˚ Coordinating Council to evaluate the activities carried out by the sector.

Among the various points, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Janfar Abdulai, quoted by "O País", reaffirmed the Government's commitment to increase the amount of cargo handled in national ports, annually.

"The outlook is for an increase in cargo handled from about 41 million tons handled at Mozambican ports in 2020 to about 84 million tons projected by the end of this five-year period," revealed Transport and Communications Minister Janfar Abdulai.

In addition to the port component, the holder of the Transport and Communications portfolio announced the good news in the field of civil aviation with the resumption of international operators in Mozambican airspace. This return has to do with the slowdown of covid-19 cases in the country.

"From a total of eight operators that explored the international market, five have already resumed the Mozambican market, and there are prospects that Air France will start flying regularly to Mozambique again, starting in December of this year," announced Janfar Abulai.

Domestically, Abdulai ordered the resumption of long-distance passenger rail transport that had been halted as a way of telling the spread of the new Coronavirus on trains.

"We urge the Ports and Railways company to meet this need that concerns our population, especially on the Limpopo, Sena railway lines as well as the Cuamba Lichinga branch line," persuaded the Minister of Transport and Communications.

The meeting also served to make new promises and reaffirm the fulfillment of others.

"With the recovery of the economy and the ongoing activities, better results are expected from the sector, for the fulfillment of PES 2021, as well as the year 2022, with the completion of strategic projects," said the Minister of Transport, mentioning some of them.

"Acquisition of 80 gas-powered buses for urban public transport, rehabilitation of the Machipanda railway line and the Sena-Vila nova da Fronteira branch line, acquisition of locomotives, wagons, carriages and railcars to reinforce the railway transport of passengers and cargo, rehabilitation, expansion and modernization of the Port of Nacala, revitalization of maritime cabotage, conclusion of the construction of the airport in Chongoene, continued expansion and improvement of telecommunications services, among others."

The Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Transport and Communications was held under the theme "Enabling Transport, Communications and Meteorology in the Digital Age".