On Friday (23), the government and the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) signed an addendum extending the concession contract for the Port of Maputo.

The deal is valued at 2.6 billion US dollars, and authorizes MPDC to continue its operations in Maputo for another 25 years, starting in 2033, and ending in April 2058..

Representing the government, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Amilton Alissone, said that the Executive's decision represents the continuity and strengthening of the commitment to the economic and social development of the country and the region.

He referred to the investments made in the Port of Maputo between 2003 and 2023, amounting to more than 800 million dollars, including the gains of the current concession as a record in the volume of cargo handled, which stood at 31.2 million tons.

"That's why, with the excitement of the futureWe are confident that in 2058 we will be here celebrating more successes and achievements at the Port of Maputo," he said.

For his part, the Director General of the Port of Maputo, Osório Lucas, noted that, over the last few years, the port has become a benchmark in the region, thanks to the commitment of every Mozambican who works there.

"We believe that it is the people who make this port a vibrant reality. It is with immense pride that today we have a Port of Mozambique for Mozambicans, and which has more than 99% of Mozambicans in its infrastructure," he said.

The ceremony was attended by shareholders of the Port of Maputo, including the state, through Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique, Grindrod and DP World, who expressed their commitment to developing their operations through the port.

Negotiations with the government to extend the contract began on October 22, 2022 and lasted around 14 months. It's an old plan, but the urgency of its implementation was prompted by the investments of five billion US dollars planned for the Port of Durban in South Africa.

"The government and MPDC recognized the need to increase the capacity and robustness of the infrastructure. The request for an extension was for 10 years, with a view to recovering the investments proposed by MPDC. However, the government assessed Mozambique's strategic importance in SADC.... With the extension of the concession we project direct benefits in the national economy, including dividends in the order of eight billion dollars in rents, dividends and income taxes", said the government representative.