Maputo — Mozambique's Ministry of Science and Technology signed a contract on Friday with the Indian company Jaguar Overseas Limited for the construction and development of a science and technology park in the southern district of Manhica.

Budgeted at 25 million US dollars, provided as a loan from the Indian government, the work will begin within three months, and Jaguar Overseas should deliver the completed park within two years.

The contract was signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Filomena Dzimba, and by Jaguar Overseas representative K. S. Aswathanarayana, at a ceremony witnessed by Science and Technology Minister Venancio Massingue.

Massingue said that the science park is an important step towards the knowledge society. The government hoped that from the park would emerge "Mozambican Bill Gates". It would also allow the promised linkage between research and production.

The initiative, which also includes a "Business Technological Incubator", is part of a long term government programme to build up information technology skills in the country.

The "Business Incubator", said Massingue, is aimed at increasing business skills, generating wealth through job creation, and establishing linkages between the public and private sectors in order to develop the information technology industry.

Massingue justified the choice of Manhica for the part, because of its proximity to a major road and railway, as well as to the Incomati river and the Indian Ocean. The site chosen has plenty of space for future expansion.