Cape Town, South Africa – Over 20 African ports authorities, terminal operators and Ministries of Transport convene in Durban, South Africa this October for strategic think-tank discussions around port optimisation and modernisation across the region.  The African Ports Evolution initiative sets the backdrop for the design and development of a strategic roadmap for transport infrastructure design and delivery in sub-Saharan Africa.

The African Ports Evolution Forum, now in its sixth year, is an annual initiative created in response to Africa’s transport infrastructure gap.   Not only will Ministries of Transport from Nigeria to Kenya to South Africa be in attendance but also myriad ports authorities from Namport to Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority will be there to boost intra-African collaboration and prepare for post-neo-panamax shipping requirements as the fourth industrial revolution sweeps the globe and Africa’s profile as a global trade partner gains momentum.

African Ports Evolution is strategically co-located with the 2nd annual African Rail Evolution Forum and Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal’s Export Week initiative to provide comprehensive access to strategic development for both coastal and hinterland trade.

Some of the African ports authorities, terminal operators and Ministries of Transport confirmed to participate at African Ports Evolution from 17 to 18 October in Durban, South Africa include:

  • Port of Cabinda, Angola
  • Communauté Portuaire d’Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Mozambique Ports & Railways (CFM), Mozambique
  • Ministry of Ports, Somalia
  • Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya
  • Department of Transport, South Africa
  • PortMiami, United States
  • Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Kenya
  • Federal Ministry of Transport, Nigeria
  • Ministry of Works & Transport, Uganda
  • Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Namibia
  • Ports Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa, Kenya
  • Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Ltd (TICTS), Tanzania
  • Portos do Norte, SA, Mozambique
  • Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, Djibouti
  • The Presidency, Nigeria
  • Maputo Port Development Company, Mozambique
  • Transnet National Ports Authority, South Africa
  • Namport, Namibia
  • Cornelder de Mocambique, Mozambique

Supported by the Ports Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA) and hosted by eThekwini Municipality in partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority, the forum garners support from more than 100 sponsors and exhibitors and 80 media and association partners to form one of Africa’s leading transport initiatives.

Port and corridor expansion is not only creating new business opportunities for port city development across the sub-Saharan region but also opening up new access to hinterland areas and strategic trade corridors. “I find that African Ports Evolution provides a great opportunity to learn about the different role-players in this industry and broaden the understanding of all the elements in the supply chain for ports development,” offers Melinda Swift, Specialist Advisor for the Oceans Economy Secretariat at Operation Phakisa in South Africa’s national Department of Environmental Affairs. www.portsevolution.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *