Holding of the Nacala Port Inauguration Ceremony: Expectations for enhanced connectivity between Mozambique and neighboring countries, improved logistics, and economic impacts
2023.12.13
On October 7, the inauguration ceremony for Nacala Port, which was constructed under the Japanese ODA loan project “Nacala Port Development Project (Ⅰ) (Ⅱ),” was held in Nacala City, Nampula Province in the Republic of Mozambique.
Attending the ceremony were President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and Minister of Transport and Communications Mateus Magala, from the Mozambique side, and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hosaka Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Mozambique Kimura Hajime, Director General of the JICA Africa Department Yanase Naoki, and Chief Representative of JICA Mozambique Otsuka Kazuki, from the Japan side.
In addition, President of the Republic of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera and President of the Republic of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema also attended, which showed the high expectations for the port.
A scene from the inauguration ceremony.
A panoramic view of Nacala Port (Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. and Toa Corporation Joint Venture).
Nacala Port is the gateway to the Nacala Corridor, which leads to the inland countries of Malawi and Zambia, and is one of the best natural ports in southeastern Africa. Also, its importance as a key port for regional trade from a geopolitical perspective has been recognized. Japan has been collaborating on its development with the public and private sector from the perspective of promoting investment.
The port had not been improved sufficiently since its development in the 1970s, and some of its facilities had been dilapidated and damaged by hurricanes. Therefore, JICA implemented the grant aid project called “The Project for Urgent Rehabilitation of Nacala Port” in 2012, and signed a loan agreement on “Nacala Port Development Project” Phase I in 2013, followed by Phase II in 2015, in order to respond to the increase in cargo and to improve logistics, and has since been working on its construction.
By increasing the convenience of Nacala Port, this project is expected to improve regional logistics, revitalize the Nacala Corridor, and, as a consequence, develop the economy of the region, including neighboring countries.
At the ceremony, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Hosaka stated that Nacala Port is an important strategic point for promoting the realization of the FOIP (Free and Open Indo-Pacific). Also at the ceremony, a partnership agreement on the development of the Nacala Corridor among Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia was signed. President Nyusi congratulated those involved on the completion of what is a world-standard port, and the other attending presidents stated its importance for the development of each of their countries and for strengthening regional connectivity, promising to work together for further development.
In the Nacala Corridor region, JICA has been cooperating in the development of infrastructure such as roads and water supply systems, in addition to the development of Nacala Port, and will continue to support the revitalization of the region.
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