The concession agreement that placed the management of the Port of Maputo in the hands of the Sociedade de Desenvolvimento do Porto de Maputo (MPDC) has played a decisive role in transforming the port into a national and international benchmark of excellence. Since the signing of the concession, MPDC has introduced a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to port operations, infrastructure development, and service delivery, contributing significantly to the modernization and increased competitiveness of this vital maritime gateway.
According to Carlos Bambo, the first post-independence director of the port, this remarkable progress is largely due to the proactive and strategic decisions taken by the current management. “Although at the time I did not agree with the idea of privatizing or granting a concession for the port, the results achieved today are undeniably positive. If this type of management continues, the Port of Maputo is poised to go even further,” said Bambo in an interview with the newspaper Domingo, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of National Independence.
Carlos Bambo assumed leadership of the port in 1990, at a time when it was still recovering from the structural and economic difficulties left by the civil war and adapting to a rapidly changing regional economy. Back then, the port handled approximately 12 million tons of mixed cargo. The bulk of this cargo originated from neighboring countries in the hinterland, including Eswatini—which exported ferrochrome, coal, steel, granite, and sugar—and South Africa, which shipped coal and iron ore through the Maputo corridor.
Over the years, the port’s capacity and efficiency have grown considerably, thanks to heavy investment in infrastructure, equipment modernization, and digital systems, as well as improvements in customs and cargo handling procedures. These advancements have positioned the Port of Maputo as a key logistics hub for Southern Africa, connecting landlocked countries to global markets through the Indian Ocean.
The successful implementation of the concession model has also led to the creation of thousands of jobs, enhanced public-private partnerships, and increased foreign direct investment, making the port a symbol of Mozambique’s ambition to become a major player in regional trade and transport.
With sustained commitment to innovation and responsiveness to market needs, the Port of Maputo continues to chart a course toward becoming one of the most efficient and competitive ports on the African continent.
Source: Domingo
