Mozambique's Ports Development Company (MPDC) announced a $1 billion investment over the next 20 years to improve infrastructure in the country's main port to meet international demands.

"We think that it is a good time to invest because the demand is there and what we need to do is to create the gateway, developing the infrastructures to take these commodities to the market," MPDC chief executive Dave Rennie told a news conference in the capital.

Rennie said India and China were markets that needed to be serviced.

MPDC, whose owners are South African logistics firm Grindrod and giant Dubai-based port operator DP World , raised its investment from $750 million pledged in January saying it now also wanted to add rail facilities within the port. (Reuters)