Mozambique is strengthening its strategic ties with India in an initiative aimed at accelerating the modernisation of its national railway network and identifying technological solutions to the growing challenges of urban mobility. The Government is seeking to mobilise technical expertise, equipment and investment to improve the efficiency of public transport and increase passenger and freight transport capacity.
The initiative gained momentum in New Delhi, where the Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, held meetings with representatives of Delhi Metro International and the Indian railway engineering company Rites, on the sidelines of the international conference Sagarmanthan – Great Oceans Dialogue.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics (MTL), cited by the Lusa news agency, the meetings focused on identifying opportunities for technical cooperation and investment, particularly in the development of urban transport systems and the strengthening of Mozambique's railway capacity.
During his meeting with Delhi Metro International, João Matlombe learned about India's experience in managing, expanding and modernising metropolitan transport networks, including technological solutions developed to meet the demands of major urban centres.
For the Mozambican authorities, India's experience could provide an important reference point in the search for solutions to mobility problems in the country's main cities, where population growth and increasing demand for public transport are placing mounting pressure on the capacity of existing systems.
The aim is to identify models and technologies that could be adapted to national conditions, with a view to improving urban mobility and the quality of services provided to the population.
India considers adapting locomotives to Southern Africa's needs
The railway sector also featured prominently on the minister's agenda in New Delhi. João Matlombe met with officials from Rites, an Indian company specialising in railway engineering and consultancy, which has maintained a longstanding cooperation relationship with Mozambique's state-owned railway company, Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique (CFM).
This partnership has covered several areas, ranging from staff training and technical assistance to consultancy services and the supply of rolling stock, including locomotives, freight wagons, railcars and passenger carriages.
During the discussions, Indian representatives outlined the progress their country has made in the railway sector, highlighting the expansion of electric traction and investment in infrastructure modernisation.
One significant aspect of the meetings was the interest expressed by Indian companies and authorities in adapting part of their locomotive production to the technical specifications of Southern Africa's railway networks.
This possibility comes at a time when several countries in the region are seeking to renew their fleets and increase rail transport capacity, creating opportunities to supply equipment suited to the characteristics of existing infrastructure.
The growing ties between Mozambique and India's railway industry build on an already well-established history of cooperation.
Just over a year before these meetings, Rites had completed the delivery of ten diesel-electric locomotives to CFM under a contract worth €32.5 million.
At the time, João Matlombe described the acquisition as part of an investment aimed at making Mozambique's rail and port system modern, efficient, competitive and capable of meeting the needs of the national and regional economies.
The minister also emphasised Mozambique's strategic geographical position, arguing that investment in infrastructure, combined with efficient management, could strengthen the country's importance as a logistics hub for Southern Africa.
Government plans to invest €190 million by 2030
The search for new international partnerships forms part of a broader railway modernisation programme, under which the Mozambican Government plans to invest approximately €190 million by 2030.
The funds are expected to be allocated to increasing railway line capacity and purchasing equipment for passenger and freight transport.
Among the planned projects is the completion of the remaining 25 kilometres of track doubling on the Ressano Garcia line, one of the main railway connections between Mozambique and South Africa.
The programme also includes the purchase of more than 30 passenger carriages, 250 freight wagons and at least 15 mainline locomotives, equipment considered essential to strengthening the network's operational capacity.
According to government documents, the implementation of these investments, together with fleet expansion and the full commissioning of rehabilitated or expanded infrastructure, could contribute to a 26.6% increase in rail traffic.
The projections cover work on the Ressano Garcia, Matola Gare–Moamba and Machipanda railway lines, corridors that play an important role in passenger transport and the movement of freight.
Against this backdrop, cooperation with India could play a significant role in achieving national objectives, particularly through the transfer of specialised expertise, access to new technologies and the supply of railway equipment adapted to Mozambique's needs.
Despite the opportunities arising from the meetings in New Delhi, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics has yet to announce any new contracts, financial commitments or concrete investments resulting from the discussions.
For now, the initiative represents a further step towards closer institutional and business ties, as Mozambique seeks to turn the potential of its geographical location into a sustainable logistical advantage supported by more modern, efficient and competitive railway infrastructure.
