West, Central African port managers mull Continental Cabotage Policy

Port Managers in West and Central Africa are in discussions to establish a Continental Cabotage Policy to help in actualising the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The recommendation was made recently by the Consultant Strategist Adviser, MT Montreal, Quebec, Mr. Armand Hounto, at the 43rd Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) Annual Council, holding in Lagos.

Hounto, told the delegates, that as Africa looks to liberalising trade across the continent, having a Cabotage policy is an opportunity to unlock economic possibilities that AfCFTA holds.

According to Hounto, “Africa doesn’t have a Cabotage Policy. Do African ports have infrastructure for international Cabotage? No. We should establish equitable contribution to transnational African companies. This recommendation will stimulate economic activities. There should be exchange from zero percent to 15 percent. Our ports should be able to make these changes.”

Giving his keynote address earlier, the president of PMAWCA and Managing Director of Gabon Ports Authority, Mr. Martin Boguikouma, noted that the Annual Council, through strengthening collaborations with sister port will focus on tackling emerging issues in the port sector across the continent.

Boguikouma said that the discussion will border on eliminating trade barriers, deepening port infrastructural capacity to making for easy movement of goods and persons across the continent and improving the overall efficiency of African ports in global port business.

“On September 28 2023, I was appointed as head of Gabon Seaport. This coincided with my appointment as PMAWCA’s Head. I promise not to waste any effort to achieve set objectives.

“We need to see West and Central Africa. We need to pay attention to port development. We need to see that the life of men and associations are punctuated by changes.

“I would like us to share ideas on best practices for efficiency to serve our continent. Collaboration has shown that PMAWCA has led to development in West and Central Africa. The discussions will focus on emerging issues for 2024 and the role of ports in Africa”, he said.

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