The minister, who was speaking within the scope of the inauguration, this Friday, of the Maritime Passenger Terminal and Breakwater of the Port of Cabinda, reiterated that this infrastructure, together with the one recently inaugurated in Soyo, will allow an increase "in exchanges trade and transit of goods to neighboring countries", promoting the country's exports.
"Together with the infrastructure that we have inaugurated in the province of Zaire, municipality of Soyo, it allows us to increase trade and transit of goods to neighboring countries, promoting our exports and the creation of a logistics hub in the two provinces," he said.
Regarding the infrastructure in Cabinda, Ricardo D'Abreu considered that it "completely changes the panorama of possibilities of access to the province" and that it will "contribute to the reduction of the living costs of its citizens".
Making a brief reference and thanks for the effort and commitment of all those involved in the project, the holder of the Transport portfolio also highlighted other advantages of the terminal.
The platform, according to the official, will bring Cabinda closer to the rest of the country, "because, in addition to the air route, we now have another modal for its accessibility".
It will also have a significant impact "on the cost of living of the populations of Cabinda and its economy due to the improvement of the technical and operational conditions for the transport and handling of cargo at the level of port operations, with a significant reduction in the cost of freight to the province practiced by formal and informal transporters", he indicated.
The list of benefits also includes the promotion of the creation of direct and indirect jobs.
In his speech, the official also made it known that with the entry into operation of these infrastructures and the transport service, there will be a "quay of approximately 360 meters, with a draft of nine meters, which will allow the entry of medium and large ships, which cannot be operated on the current 120-meter quay".
It will also have the capacity to operate Ro-Ro ships and barges that are currently disembarking on the beaches of the province, as well as a reduction in the crossing time between Soyo and Cabinda (from 8 to 12 hours to two hours and 30 minutes) and the tariff reduction from 30 thousand to 15 thousand kwanzas.
"We expect to receive more than 100 ships a year and transport more than 35 thousand people, in the transport services to be provided by Secil maritime and by other interested operators - and already invited - to be part of the new future", he added.
He also mentioned that the present terminal is included in a broader project in the sector in the North region.
The Maritime Terminal for Passengers and Breakwater at the Port of Cabinda was inaugurated this Friday by the President, João Lourenço, who, after cutting the ribbon, visited some areas of the infrastructure.
