Nigeria (Europe Brief News): Experts say modernizing Africa’s port infrastructure is vital to boosting trade, regional integration, and long-term economic development across the continent.
Increasing cooperation between public and private sector entities, especially through investments in contemporary port infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity, is a powerful way to unlock sustainable prosperity in Africa.
At the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Igor van den Essen, regional managing director for Africa and Europe at APM Terminals, a significant port concessionaire operating in Nigeria, stated as much.
Essen emphasized that long-term value-generating public-private partnerships (PPPs) are critical to Africa’s economic destiny.
“This is precisely the mindset guiding our engagement in, for instance, Nigeria,”
He said during a panel session on strengthening the resilience of African supply chains.
“We are in active discussions with the port authority and government partners to upgrade our terminal in Lagos to service larger vessels, strengthen connectivity and lower the cost of doing business.”
According to him, port expansion is one of the best tools for increasing export support, competitiveness, and economic change.
He cautioned that the continent runs the risk of slipping farther behind in the global trade ecosystem if significant infrastructure investments are not made in seaports, roads, and rail.
“Economic development is directly linked to robust port infrastructure. Investing in infrastructure is investing in Africa’s future,”
He said.
“It strengthens local industries, attracts private capital and lays the foundation for stable, self-sustaining growth.”
In addition to the quay, van den Essen stated that APM Terminals is committed to developing integrated logistics solutions that will increase the efficiency and dependability of African supply chains. These solutions will include cold chain systems, distribution centers, and digital platforms.
Up to 2,000 officials from the public and commercial sectors attended the summit, which focused on how modernizing logistics and releasing finance could propel Africa’s next stage of prosperity.
How will improved port infrastructure accelerate Africa’s economic growth?
African imports and exports are more competitive internationally because to modern, effective ports that cut down on the time and expense of moving commodities. The functioning of ports directly affects trade flows because they are the entry and exit locations for roughly 70% of value trade and 80% of volume traffic in goods.
By drawing in foreign direct investment (FDI), fostering industrialization, and generating employment in manufacturing, logistics, and related fields, efficient ports boost regional economies.
Better port infrastructure creates uncertainty for businesses and more dependable supply chains. This dependability promotes more investment and aids in the expansion of regional industries.
African ports are positioned as cutting-edge, alluring hubs for international trade thanks to investments in sustainability (such as green port programs) and digitalization (such as blockchain and AI-driven logistics).
