Maputo

Maputo is the capital and largest city of Mozambique, located on the country's southern coast along the Indian Ocean. The city serves as the nation's primary economic and commercial hub, as well as its main port. Maputo has a population of about 1.1-million people in the city proper and more than two-million in the greater metropolitan area. The city is a major centre for trade, finance, manufacturing and transport, with industries including aluminium smelting, cement production, food processing and textiles. Maputo's deep-water port is one of the busiest in southern Africa and serves as a critical gateway for landlocked neighbours including Zimbabwe, Zambia and parts of South Africa. The city is also a regional transport hub, connected by rail corridors to South Africa's Gauteng province and other inland markets. Maputo's economy benefits from its strategic location and its role as the administrative and financial capital of Mozambique. The city has seen significant infrastructure investment in recent years, including port upgrades and urban development projects. Maputo was known as Lourenço Marques until Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, after which it was renamed.