The Mozambican government has launched a tender for the construction of a new jetty on the island of Inhaca, off Maputo, in order to boost local tourism, according to a public notice to which Lusa had access on Thursday.
Located at the entrance to Maputo Bay, in southern Mozambique, Inhaca – or KaNyaka – is one of the province’s main tourist attractions, but the connection between the island and the city is still poor, due to the limited supply of maritime transport and attraction conditions.
“The ministry of transport and communications – MTC, in partnership with Maputo city council, intends to replace the jetty on KaNyaka island with a new structure that will allow, among other things, it to accommodate passengers and an emergency vehicle of up to five tonnes, in any type of tide, a situation that does not currently exist,” reads the notice launching the tender for this work, which will run until 18 March.
That island, a few minutes from the capital, is home to more than 6,000 people, administratively included in the city of Maputo.
The infrastructure, which will be about a kilometre long, aims to place Inhaca Island among the city’s tourist hubs by improving accessibility, and the minister of transport and communications, Mateus Magala, previously said that the work should start within three months and be completed this year.
“This infrastructure will make it safer and more comfortable for tourists and other passengers travelling to this island part of Maputo City,” said the minister when he presented the work this week.
“With the KaNyaka jetty ready, we will promote safety and comfort for visitors, while at the same time boosting the local economy, attracting tourists and facilitating trade, thus contributing to sustainable development and significant improvements in the quality of life of the local residents,” he added.
According to Mateus Magala, the island of Inhaca “is growing, attracting more and more inhabitants and economic agents with diverse needs” who need to be served.
Part of the funding for this project will be guaranteed by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), the concessionaire for the capital’s port, as part of the extension of the concession contract until 2058.
This is a package of US$15 million (€13.8 million), out of the investment of almost €2 billion for the expansion of the port, earmarked for six social projects to be supported by MPDC.
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