Maputo, 30 Oct (AIM) – The construction of wholesale market in Milange district, in the central Mozambican province of Zambézia, is budgeted at 81 million meticais (1.3 million US dollars at the current exchange rate).
The project, which intends to boost cross-border trade between Mozambique and Malawi, was launched on Thursday as part of the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project, with funding provided by the Zambezi Agency through the World Bank.
Speaking at the ceremony which marked the laying of the first stone for the infrastructure’s construction, Felisberto Nvua, mayor of the Milange municipality, said that the marked will boost commercial activity and leveraging the district’s agricultural potential.
“This infrastructure is also expected to improve conditions for marketing local products and stimulate new business opportunities. This major project will ensure that our products have a dignified, modern, and strategic space for commercialization, transforming the lives of our producers and driving the local economy”, he said.
Pio Matos, governor of Zambézia, called for quality and speed in the construction work, urging both the contractor and the project supervisor to show commitment, “and above all, respect the culture of this community. Whenever possible, hire local labor as the work progresses.”
For his part, Celso Cunha, head of Zambezi Agency, believes that the market will encourage the transport of agricultural products from neighboring districts into a secure and organized hub. “It will serve as a true showcase, improving price negotiations and giving producers greater bargaining power”, he said.
“The goal is to stimulate private sector activity along specific corridors between Mozambique and Malawi, in order to reduce trade costs and time, enhance value chain development, and improve access to infrastructure”, he said.
Am/
