Maputo — Money is now available to start rebuilding the road between the northern Mozambican cities of Nampula and Cuamba, giving it a tarred surface, according to the Mozambican Ambassador to Japan, Belmiro Malate, cited in Thursday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".

Speaking in Nampula over the week end, at the end of a visit of a Japanese mission of 50 business people who came to Mozambique to seek investment opportunities, Malate said that the Japanese government has granted 60 million US dollars for the road, and so work on it should start by the second half of this year.

After a meeting between the Japanese business people and Nampula provincial governor Felismino Tocoli, Malate told reporters that documents to make the money available before the end of February will be signed within the next few days.

He stressed the importance of this 300 kilometre road for the movement of people and goods in the northern region of the country.

Malate described the visit of the Japanese mission as very positive, because they learnt of the economic potential of Nampula, particularly in the areas of agriculture, mineral resources and tourism.

After his meeting with the Japanese, Tocoli said they had expressed interest in investing in the Nacala Development Corridor, particularly in expanding the port of Nacala, to allow the export of coal from the Moatize mines, in Tete province.

He added that some of those business people expressed interest in purchasing sesame and cashew nuts, which are among the main cash crops produced in Nampula.

"These are the investments that the government needs to develop our province, and the government has been working with its cooperation partners to achieve that. That is why we are very happy to receive this type of mission in our province, and I hope that we will reap the fruits in the future', said Tocoli.