51122E – MOZAMBIQUE / OVER 30,000 TONNES OF PIGEON PEAS AND SOYBEANS RETAINED IN INDIA
Maputo, 02 Nov (AIM) – A cargo of about 30,000 tonnes of pigeon peas and soya beans, exported from Mozambique, is being held up in the Indian city of Mumbai since last September.
The cargo belongs to Royal Group, a Mozambican company based in the northern province of Nampula.
According to daily “Notícias”, the cargo was retained following a business dispute between Royal Group and ETG, a group led by the company Export Marketing, also based in Nampula.
ETG, which operates in the same field, is said to have made unfounded accusations to buyers in India, based on forged documents.
In light of the situation, Royal Group has already filed criminal charges against ETG for slander and demand compensation for damages caused, amounting to 25 million US dollars.
The case is in the hands of justice authorities from Nampula and the first hearing of the case has been scheduled for next Friday.
“This behaviour aims at closing the Indian market to Royal Group”, a source of the company complained, adding that the image of the company has been tarnished by the evil and slanderous act architected by ETG, with the aim of preventing other Mozambican companies from operating on the same field and placing their goods in India.
“The Mozambican authorities have already been asked to help solve the problem”, the source said, adding that the whole cargo is entirely made up of goods produced in Mozambique.
The Indian authorities confirmed that the cargo is 100 percent Mozambican, but haven’t yet allowed the ship to unload its cargo.
Meanwhile, ETG representatives have declined to make any comments to the press on the issue.
(AIM)
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(AIM / AIMENG)
