The Mozambican port of Beira is contributing to increased trade between countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the European Union (EU), the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso said Friday.

During a visit to the port’s facilities, Durão Barroso also said that the port of Beira was essential not only for the region but also for other parts of the African continent, as it was an entry and exit point for goods such as coal, fertilizer, granite, grains, and container cargo.

“In fact the port of Beira joins Africa and Europe in trade,” he said noting that Europe had technology and management and Africa had natural resources, some of which have been found in the last few years.

The chief executive of Cornelder Moçambique, Carlos Mesquita, told Mozambican newspaper Notícias that he had informed the President of the European Commission about the projects underway and the trend for landlocked countries to use the port’s facilities and the Beira Corridor transport system.

Specifically noting the port’s activities, Mesquita said that this year 83,000 containers had been processed, which was a year-on-year increase of 15 percent and that in terms of general cargo over 2.5 million tons had been processed , of which 1.3 million tons were coal. (macauhub)