The Industrial Development Corporation and a consortium of private equity partners have concluded a financial package to build and operate a state-of-the-art fresh produce export terminal at Maputo port in Mozambique.
The project is valued at R30 million and has two major shareholders, Port Elizabeth Cold Store and a Mozambican company, Fidelity Investments. The facility will be able to handle 70 000t citrus and 10 000t frozen juice in a six-month period. This capacity increase of Maputo port and the weekly direct sea route from Maputo to the Far East will save SA farmers about R15 million a year on inland logistics costs, said investor Jacey Strauss. If all the produce from Lowveld and Swaziland farmers flows through the harbour, the agriculture sector could save up to R80 million a year. Construction is set to start end April and the terminal will be ready for the 2008 season. – Staff reporter
