Maputo expansion paves way for growth in Mozambique

The emergence of Mozambique as a business and leisure destination was underlined in 2012 by the completion of a USD132 million twin-terminal airport complex in the capital Maputo. The domestic terminal at the facility opened in October, almost two years after the international terminal began operations. "The first to open was the international terminal, in November 2010. We began operations at the domestic terminal in October 2012," Ernesto Junior, airport director at Maputo International Airport, told IHS Jane's in December 2012.

Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Co (AFECC) of China completed the international terminal in June 2010. "Work on the domestic terminal began in March 2011, with demolition works, and was completed in September 2012, with most equipment and systems running, with the exception of trial tests," said Acacio Tuendue, project manager on the Maputo expansion for Aeroportos de Moçambique (ADM). AFECC also carried out the construction on the new airport control tower. The expansion project was largely funded by a low-interest loan from China.

The dog-leg shaped twin-terminal complex, which dwarfs existing airport buildings and surrounding favelas, is a new shop window for Mozambique to attract foreign investment in its mining and energy sectors.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts real growth of 7.5% and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of USD652 in 2012, and estimated nominal GDP growth at an average of 13.9% a year to USD23.8 billion in the period 2010-17.

Qatar Airways became the latest airline to operate flights to Maputo, its 19th African destination, launching the route on 31 October 2012.