Last Friday, on the 13th of October, a significant event graced the southern African region. Cornelder de Moçambique (CdM) proudly hosted the “Beira Corridor Business Forum.” The gathering was no ordinary meeting, it marked the 25th anniversary of Cornelder’s stewardship of the Port of Beira. The event attracted both local and international participants, particularly from the southern African realm.
Reflecting on past, present and future
Jan Laurens de Vries, the Executive Managing-Director of CdM, took a moment to reflect on the remarkable 25-year journey of Cornelder de Moçambique. He spoke of the numerous challenges they overcame and the significant investments made in recent times.
These investments spanned across human resources, machinery, and programmes, leading to a complete modernization of the services at the Port of Beira. Laurens de Vries emphasized the need for partners to harmonize their operating systems for the further advancement of the port.
Recognitions and future aspirations
High praise was given to CdM’s efforts and substantial investments over the last quarter-century. Both the minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, and the Secretary of State for Sofala, Cecília Chamutota, lauded CdM.
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, with the World Bank classifying the Port of Beira as the most efficient in southern Africa, particularly regarding containerised cargo performance.
However, the praise didn’t stop at just recognition. Minister Magala set forth a challenge for CdM’s management. He envisions the Container Terminal (CT) handling an annual throughput of one million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) within the next 15 years.
This goal is supported by the already guaranteed continuous management of the Port of Beira. As of now, the port handles approximately 300,000 TEUs yearly, but ambitions are high, CdM aims to more than double this, targeting 700,000 TEUs in the upcoming years.
In response to this ambitious challenge, António Libombo, CdM’s Deputy Executive Director, expressed determination. He acknowledged the significance of first achieving the interim target of 700,000 TEUs before scaling up to the one million mark.
Towards a brighter horizon
The Beira Corridor Business Forum served as a beacon of reflection, recognition, and aspiration. As Cornelder de Moçambique looks to the future, its commitment to excellence remains unwavering.
