GROWTH IN NACALA SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE

The Special Economic Zone located in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula, centred on the port of Nacala, could register investment totalling 160 million US dollars this year in the fields of industry, tourism and agro-processing, according to the Maputo daily “Noticias”. This is a huge jump compared with last year when only about 15 million US dollars was invested.According to Salim Talaquichande, of the Office for Special Economic Zones (GAZEDA) in Nacala, this year’s investment will create about seven thousand permanent and seasonal jobs.However, interviewed by “Noticias”, Talaquichande explained that he did not have the data to state the number of jobs created in the construction activity currently under way.Talaquichande emphasised the positive impact on the life of the many families whose members have jobs in local industry, tourism and services, even if such jobs are only seasonal.Nacala Port and the neighbouring district of Nacala-a-Velha form the main part of the Special Economic Zone, which offers a number of fiscal and non-fiscal benefits.In the face of the growing investor interest in implementing their initiatives in Nacala, particularly in the fields of agro-processing and tourism, GAZEDA felt the need to create two Industrial Free Zones at the end of last year.The office created an Industrial Free Zone at the administrative post of Locone covering 176 hectares and another at Munhoene covering 330 hectares.Nacala is of particular interest to investors partly because of plans to repair the rail link between the port and Zambia and Malawi, opening up Nacala’s hinterland. A proposed new rail link from Nacala, through southern Malawi, to the Moatize coal basin would also enable coal from the huge reserves in Tete province to be exported through Nacala.