Mozambique’s government has approved a 10-year public-private partnership (PPP) for the construction and operation of the Ressano Garcia International Road Freight Terminal, the country’s busiest commercial border post with South Africa.
The decision was confirmed on Tuesday following a meeting of the Council of Ministers, which endorsed the decree formalising the terms of the concession contract for managing the key border infrastructure.
According to government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa, the decree establishes the legal framework that allows a private operator to handle the construction, operation, maintenance, and management of the terminal. After the concession period, the infrastructure will revert to the state.
Under the agreement, the concessionaire, whose name has not yet been revealed, will have 18 months to modernise the existing Ressano Garcia International Road Terminal at Kilometre 4, which is mainly used by heavy-duty trucks. The contract also includes the construction of a new tourist border post to accommodate various public services involved in the migration process. One third of this new development will be funded as a social contribution by the concessionaire.
Additional infrastructure upgrades will include traffic system improvements in the border area, expansion of traffic lanes, and the construction of a viaduct to enhance access to the terminal. A new exit will also be developed to streamline truck movement and improve operational efficiency.
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This development is expected to bring much-needed relief to truckers who have long endured hours in winding queues at the Ressano Garcia border, one of the most congested crossings in the region.
South Africa remains Mozambique’s largest trading partner, supplying a significant volume of goods and serving as one of the main destinations for Mozambican exports. The Ressano Garcia border and the Port of Maputo continue to play a crucial role in facilitating this cross-border trade, particularly for mineral exports.
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