The Port of Maputo launched the Port Community System (PCS) on Wednesday (1), a digital platform designed to integrate all stakeholders in the port community into a single network, enabling greater integration among entities, secure real-time information exchange, and faster, more transparent, and more efficient operations. The system was unveiled in Maputo during a ceremony organized by the Maputo Port Development Corporation (MPDC), attended by Minister of Transportation and Logistics João Matlombe and representatives of the port community.
On that occasion, the Minister of Transportation and Logistics stated that the launch of the PCS represents “another important and concrete step toward the modernization of rail-port services in our country,” adding that the initiative reflects the government’s vision to strengthen national competitiveness by facilitating trade, modernizing public services, and using technology as a tool for development.
According to João Matlombe, “digital transformation cannot, and should not, be viewed merely as a technological issue. Rather, it must be seen as a public policy tool capable of accelerating economic growth, promoting transparency, and improving the quality of services provided to our people.”
The official argued that logistical efficiency depends increasingly on technology, emphasizing that “every hour saved at a border, every streamlined process, and every digitized document translates into lower costs for our companies, greater attractiveness, and better opportunities for our citizens.”
Regarding the new system, he explained that it is “a platform that will enable the integration of different entities, processes, and systems into a single digital community, promoting greater institutional coordination, greater transparency, and a significant improvement in the user experience of our logistics services.” He added that “our country’s logistics paradigm is about to change.”
João Matlombe also noted that the Port of Maputo is playing a pioneering role in the sector’s digital transformation, stating that “by moving forward with the implementation of the first PCS in our country, starting with the Port of Maputo, we are taking a leading role in the digitization of logistics services nationwide.” He added that this experience “could serve as a model for other logistics infrastructures in the country,” further highlighting the Beira and Nacala corridors as priorities for expanding this model.
The minister added that, for the government, “the PCS is not just an operational tool for this port, but a laboratory for learning and innovation for the entire logistics system nationwide.” As he explained, “our goal is not merely to modernize a port; it is to lay the groundwork for structural transformation across the entire country,” thereby consolidating Mozambique’s position as a strategic trade and transportation hub in Southern Africa.
For his part, the executive director of the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), Osório Lucas, stated that the launch of the PCS is the result of a journey of technological innovation developed by a 100% Mozambican team, adding that the port community can no longer imagine the port’s operations without the technological systems developed over the past few years.
According to Osório Lucas, the first discussions about the Port Community System began in 2021 and stemmed from the realization that “without digitization and systems integration, the port would not achieve the desired results.” To select the partner responsible for developing the platform, MPDC held an international tender in which more than seven companies from different countries participated, and Kale Logistics Solutions was chosen as the project’s developer.
Addressing public and private entities involved in the sector, he called for support for the project, stating that “the PCS does not belong to the MPDC; it belongs to all of us.” He also expressed his conviction that, with the involvement of all stakeholders, it will be possible to build “a platform that will make the Port of Maputo more efficient, more transparent, and more competitive.”
Source: Diário Económico
