The China Africa Cotton project for construction of factory for cotton ginning and producing cotton seed oil in the Maringué district, in the north of Sofala province, is at an advanced stage, said a district official.

Carlos Coimbra, the district director of the Economic Activities Department, told Mozambican newspaper Notícias that Chinese investors had secured the investment needed for building the unit and were now waiting for conclusion of the economic feasibility study.

The factory, which will be built near National Road 1, is expected to boost cotton production in the district, which is one of the biggest producers in Sofala province, as well as encouraging production it will make use of all the cotton produced, noted the district director.

In the 2011/2012 agricultural year the district produced around 9,000 tons of cotton, which provided revenue of 19 million meticals, as compared to production of 3,000 tons and revenue of 4 million meticals the previous year. (macauhub)