Mozambica has opened an anti-retroviral(ARV) drugs manufacturing factory, Maputo, in the southern Matola.

The Brazil funded plant will initially package, store and distribute the anti-retroviral drug, Nevirapine.produce Nevirapine, which is manufactured in Brazil.

The drugs from the new plant are expected to be available only after the first half of 2013.

According to the operating company SMM (Mozambican Medicines Company), the ARV has been donated by the Brazilian government, so that it can run tests and develop its operational capacities.

Brazil deputy President, Michel Temer was quoted by AllAfrica as saying that ARV drugs made in Brazil will be packaged here in Mozambique.

''They will be certified and they will be distributed to Mozambicans,'' Temer added.

Mozambique minister of industry and trade, Armando Inroga said SMM will package anti-retroviral drugs produced in Brazil.

"These will pass through quality tests to gauge their effectiveness,'' Inroga added.

The factory is expected to produce 371m pills a year, manufacturing six ARV drugs, accounting for 226m pills and the rest of 145m will account for 21 other generic medicines.

The Government of Brazil has granted $23.5m for the factory and the Brazilian mining company Vale contributed a further $ 4.5m.