Following events in Djibouti and Morocco, the 2021 African Ports Forum will be held in Cameroon on 21 and 22 October at the Akwa Palace Douala Hotel. This unique event aims to spark a forward-looking discussion on the evolving role of African ports in implementing and realizing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which came into force in January 2021. The forum is organized by i-conférences in partnership with the Tanger Med Group, the Autonomous Port of Kribi, and the Autonomous Port of Douala, and in collaboration with SSATP and Proparco.
Hassan M. Alaoui, Chairman of i-conférences, emphasized the significance of this platform, stating, "The African Ports Forum, inaugurating its 3rd edition in Douala this October, demonstrates the need for a space in Africa to share best practices in strategic thinking and legal and financial arrangements. Not every African country can be a hub for its region, and the Forum serves to create synergies between countries to define a shared port vision."
STRATEGIC DISCUSSIONS
The African Ports Forum will provide an opportunity to address key issues relating to the future of port activity in a free trade area and a connected Africa. These will include topics related to post-Covid port recovery plans, the evolving role of port authorities in the new development vision, port productivity and competitiveness, the emergence of dry ports, the challenges of PPPs and port concessions, and the challenges of maritime corridors.
KEY VOICES
Fouad Brini, Chairman of the Tanger Med Group, expressed optimism, saying, "Today, we Africans can say that we have a common engine on which we can rely to create even more jobs and more wealth, both in terms of logistics and industry."
Michael Mama, Director of Operations at the Autonomous Port of Kribi, highlighted the importance of the forum, adding, "The African Ports Forum is an opportunity to brainstorm on the driving ideas that energize the continent's port sector... In our ongoing quest for performance improvements comparable to Mediterranean ports, we encourage African ports to collaborate more closely and establish a regulatory framework conducive to our development."
Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Ports and Free Zones Authority in Djibouti, underscored the forum’s goals, stating, "The African Ports Forum aims to provide a platform for all stakeholders in the African ports sector to share their expertise and discuss ways to improve governance, competitiveness, connectivity, and digitization."
A HYBRID FORUM
The 2021 edition of the African Ports Forum will be conducted as a hybrid event, allowing up to 300 attendees to participate in person under strict adherence to WHO-recommended health measures. Additionally, the forum will be broadcast virtually, enabling thousands of participants worldwide to engage live with the speakers and attendees.
All stakeholders and participants in the port and maritime sectors are encouraged to contribute actively to this event, enrich discussions, and help accelerate the development of port and maritime activities across the continent.
Based in Casablanca and established in 2004, i-conférences is a leader in organizing B2B forums in North, Central, and West Africa. The organization aims to promote South-South partnerships and foster investment and growth in strategic sectors. To date, i-conférences has held over 150 specialized forums covering health, agriculture, ICT, payment systems, identification, banking, postal services, infrastructure, ports, and more.
LNT with CdP