Maputo — The Japanese government, through the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), is prepared to grant funds for the development of the Nacala Special Economic Zone in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula.

The pledge was reiterated during a meeting in Maputo on Tuesday, which involved representatives of JBIC, of the Mozambican government's Investment Promotion Centre, and of the Office for the Accelerated Development of Economic Zones (GAZEDA).

GAZEDA coordinator Danilo Nala told reporters that the aim of these meetings is to have the country develop special economic zones, which are more than mere duty free zones because they include economic growth in different sectors.

The Nacala Special Economic Zone, which covers the port of Nacala and the adjoining district of Nacala-a-Velha, was created by a government decree, approved in 2007.

During the Tuesday meeting the participants analysed experiences of Special Economic Zones in various countries, including Vietnam.

CPI director Mohamed Rafique told the meeting that it is not enough for the country to have resources, but it is necessary to render them profitable for the social and economic development of the country and the region.

'We are not starting from scratch. We already have infrastructures, that must be exploited for the Nacala Special Economic Zone to be a development pole of Mozambique and the region', he said.