A port city seeking development cannot do without strong support from its economic hinterland; otherwise, no matter how advantageous the port conditions are, it is difficult to have better development prospects.
Take Maputo Port in Mozambique, for instance; its natural conditions are quite favorable. Maputo is located at the southern entrance of the Mozambique Channel, a geographically advantageous position. Hence, the Portuguese established a colonial outpost in Maputo, which gradually became the capital of Portuguese Mozambique as history progressed.
However, this port city, developed by the Portuguese over the course of a hundred years, was quickly surpassed by New Hamburg Port City in a short period, with the gap widening rapidly. Even though Maputo and Natal are now experiencing significant investments, catching up has turned out to be a formidable challenge.
