Beira is the capital city of Sofala Province and is the second largest city of Mozambique shortly after the country's capital, Maputo. Has the status of a city on August 20, 1907.

The city of Beira was originally developed by the Mozambique Company in the nineteenth century, and then directly by the Portuguese Colonial Government from 1942 to 1975, when Mozambique gained its independence.

The city of Beira is located in Sofala Bay, about 1190 km north of Maputo, in the centre of the coast of Indian Ocean. Has bound to the north and west by the Dondo District, on the east by the Indian Ocean and south to the District of Buzi.

The city of Beira has an area of 633 km², an average elevation of 14 meters above sea level.

Population: 436 240 inhabitants (INE, 2007).

Potentialities

· International Airport (the second largest in the country);

· Trade Port, considered one of the most important of the Southeast coast of Africa.

· Coal Terminal, equipped with the latest technology, with an annual capacity to handle six million tonnes;

· Access to the Hinterland countries through the Beira Development Corridor;

· Access to zones for Coal extraction, in Tete Province, through the Sena Line;

· Gateway to the Gorongosa National Park, one of the main parks of Africa (200 km from the City)