The Mozambican government needs US$100 million for the project to create the Nacala-Porto duty free industrial area, in the northern province of Nampula, the minister for Planning and Development, Aiuba Cuereneia said in Nacala.

According to Mozambican news agency AIM, the minster said that the investment was needed to build the power transmission lines, water ducts, access roads and buildings for industrial and services units in the duty free area.

“We are seeking investors, as part of public/private partnerships, to make this project possible,” Cuereneia told economic agents and investors taking part in the first investor conference in the Nacala special economic area.

The Nacala-Porto industrial duty free area, which will be the second of its kind in Nampula province after the Topuito area (Moma heavy sands project) and which has already been approved by the council of Ministers, is located in the south of the port of Nacala, in the communities of Ninheuane and Locone, and covers an area of 500 hectares.

As part of this conference the minister announced that over 44 investment projects had been approved so far by the Office for Economic Areas with accelerated Development (Gazeda), representing investment of 400 million meticals. (macauhub)