By NNN-Bernama
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates’ global port operator, DP World, has further committed to the growing Mozambique port of Maputo by investing more than 32 million USD in the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), joining in a partnership with Grindrod International Ltd and Mozambique Gestores SARL.
DP World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, a holding company owned by the government of Dubai in the UAE, holds the concession to operate the container terminal at Maputo Port and is already a 60 per cent shareholder in Maputo International Port Services (MIPS), the container terminal operating company.
The Mozambique Ports and Railways Company hold the remaining 40 per cent, DP World said in a statement issued from Mozambique.
The terminal has a capacity of 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units).
DP World has now purchased 48.5 per cent of Portus Indico-Sociedade de Servicos Portuarios SA while Grindrod International Ltd holds another 48.5 per cent, with the remaining 3.0 per cent under Mozambique Gestores SARL, the statement said.
It said that Portus Indico has a 51 per cent interest in MPDC ,which holds the concession for the overall Port of Maputo until 2018, with an option to extend to 2028.
Portus Indico separately also holds the agreement for the management of MPDC while the Mozambique government holds the remaining 49 per cent share interest in MPDC.
DP World chief executive officer Mohammed Sharaf said that the port is the backbone of the economy. “And we look forward to helping develop the infrastructure there and contribute to the growth of Maputo and Mozambique,” he added.
Sharaf said Maputo is also one of the main corridors for the southern African hinterland and DP World planned to invest further in container-handling facilities there.
“But we also believe there is potential to grow commodity traffic as well, and with our expertise in general cargo, bulk and break bulk handling we believe we can contribute significantly to fast tracking the growth in this cargo sector through Maputo,” he said.
DP World is one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world with 42 terminals and 13 new developments across 27 countries.