The Maputo, Beira and Nacala logistics corridors must no longer be viewed merely as routes for transporting goods, but should play a decisive role in Mozambique’s economic transformation. This ambition was outlined by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, who wants to turn these strategic infrastructure networks into instruments for industrialisation, agricultural expansion, job creation and strengthening domestic businesses.
The minister presented his position on Wednesday, 14 October, in Macaneta, Marracuene district, Maputo province, during the opening of the second session of the Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, according to the Mozambique News Agency (AIM).
Addressing participants, Matlombe called for a change in how the country takes advantage of its strategic geographical position in Southern Africa. He argued that the existence of ports, railways and road connections to regional markets should deliver benefits extending well beyond the movement of cargo.
“The Maputo, Beira and Nacala corridors must therefore be regarded as genuine economic development corridors, capable of stimulating industrialisation, boosting agriculture, promoting the development of productive areas and deepening regional integration,” he said.
The minister’s vision places the national economy at the heart of the logistics development strategy. The aim is to ensure that infrastructure modernisation leads to the establishment of industrial facilities, growth in transport-related services and new opportunities for Mozambican businesses.
In this context, Matlombe insisted that investments in the sector must deliver tangible benefits to the population and the domestic business community.
“We must also ensure that the benefits arising from the modernisation and expansion of infrastructure are reflected in the Mozambican economy through the participation of national companies, job creation, skills transfer and the development of local value chains,” he emphasised.
The ports of Maputo, Beira and Nacala occupy a central position in this strategy. Connected to railway and road networks and border crossings, they serve as major gateways for imports and exports, both for Mozambique and for neighbouring landlocked countries.
However, the minister warned that this natural advantage alone is insufficient to guarantee a competitive position in regional and international markets.
In his view, establishing Mozambique as a leading logistics hub in Southern Africa depends on sustained investment in infrastructure modernisation, improved operational efficiency and the ability to provide safe, reliable and cost-competitive services.
Reducing transport costs and strengthening coordination among the various stakeholders in the logistics chain were also identified as essential conditions for achieving this objective.
Railway reform and strategic concessions among priorities
In the railway sector, João Matlombe highlighted the need to finalise and approve the implementation roadmap for the sector’s new legal framework. The reform is intended to allow more operators to enter the market, stimulate competition and create favourable conditions for attracting private investment.
The minister believes that opening up the sector could help improve the railway system’s ability to respond to growing freight transport demands and broader economic development needs.
Another area identified for action is the promotion of strategic concessions in the logistics sector, aimed at modernising infrastructure and strengthening the operational capacity of ports, railways and development corridors.
Matlombe stressed, however, that these processes must adhere to strict principles of transparency and contractual fairness, supported by effective regulatory and oversight mechanisms.
The concern, he explained, is to ensure that private-sector participation does not undermine the public interest and that investments deliver tangible benefits to the Mozambican economy.
Integration between different modes of transport is also a priority. The minister called for more efficient coordination between ports, railways, roads and border crossings to eliminate operational bottlenecks, reduce cargo transit times and make logistics services more predictable.
According to Matlombe, the competitiveness of the corridors depends not only on the quality of each individual infrastructure component but also on the ability of the entire system to operate in a coordinated manner.
Rather than simply increasing the volume of goods transported, the strategy advocated by Matlombe seeks to broaden the economic impact of logistics activities in the regions served by the corridors.
In this regard, the minister argued that assessments of the corridors’ performance should incorporate indicators relating to investment attraction, job creation, the development of national skills and the strengthening of local value chains.
The central message is that Mozambique’s logistics potential can only translate into sustainable development if it is directly linked to increased domestic production and the diversification of economic activities.
“It is not enough to have ports, railways and transport corridors. We need to transform them into engines of competitiveness, industrialisation, regional integration and national development,” he concluded.
