Helping African Ports & Logistics Supply Chain to Stay Competitive

March 2, 2012 - PRLog -- 1. African Ports are faced with serious challenges of productivity, efficiency, new investment and sustainability. This directly impact logistics and supply chain performance. The 3rd Africa Ports, Logistics and Supply Chain Conference & Expo 2012 to be held in Accra, Ghana from 19th-20th March 2012 will be addressing these challenges and strategies to achieve competitiveness and supply chain innovation.

2. With world trade expected to double within 15 years and the growing importance of African countries as global trading partners, most shipping lines are investing heavily in new vessels, including vessels of 10,000 TEU capacity and over. Port and terminal operators must accommodate these new shipping trends and needs. Expansion of terminals is taking place globally including in Nigeria, Angola and Egypt, and new terminals are being built in the Congo, Liberia, etc.

3. The 2012 Conference will address the readiness of African ports to receive the newer and bigger vessels, developing, improving and protecting port facilities; securing financing for marine infrastructure; managing congestion and increasing operational efficiency; assessing intermodal options and promoting regional and international trade flow.

4. The distinguished panel of speakers includes representatives from regional government authorities and trade bodies: Richard A Y Anamoo, Ag Director General, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority; Dr Kofi Mbiah, CEO, Ghana Shippers‟ Authority; Jerome Ntibarekerwa, Secretary General, Port Management Association of East and South Africa; Olumide Omotoso, Principal Manager (Hydro Surveys/Dredging), Nigerian Ports Authority; Folloh Mbah Paul, Environmental Manager, Port Authority of Douala, Cameroon; Wandifa Saidyleigh, Gambia Maritime Administration & senior representative, Autonomous Port of Abidjan.

5. Private sector representatives sharing the platform are: Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, SeaIntel Maritime Analysis; Jens O Floe, Senior Vice President, International Container Terminal Services, Inc; A G Sumaila, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology; Mervin Chetty, General Manager, Freight Corridor, Transnet; Mohammed Samara, CEO, Meridian Port Services; Ziad Hamoui, Interim President, Borderless Alliance; Dr Mohamed Mehrem, Chairman, Mehrem Group Co, Egypt; Kieran F Ring, CEO, Global Institute of Logistics, USA; as well as a Senior Representative from APM Terminals.

6. The Event is endorsed by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Ghana Institute of Marine Surveyors, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ports Environmental Network-Africa.

7. Sponsors and exhibitors of the two-day Conference & Expo include GCNet, Meridian Port Services, International Container Terminal Services Inc and Borderless Alliance.

8. Harry Barnes-Dabban, Executive Coordinator of Ports Environmental Network – Africa, said: "This conference will deliver large amounts of knowledge given the diversity of topics and speakers and also offer participants the opportunity to talk and learn from port industry experts. You cannot afford to miss this!"

9. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, Acting-CEO of Ghana Chamber of Commerce & Industry, commented: “The 3rd AFRICA PORTS, LOGISTICS & SUPPLY CHAIN Expo presents the business community with the platform to network and help alleviate the problems at our ports so be there.”

10. Carlos Ahenkora, President, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, welcomes the conference and as the dynamic voice of freight logistics service providers urged all players to be cognizant of professionalism and “to possess a minimum liability insurance for customer comfort and reliability”.

11. Capt GK Ahiekpor, Ghana Institute of Marine Surveyors, said: “The Association‟s Surveyors handle the greater part of the surveying jobs in Ghana and also do represent the various Classification Societies of the major Maritime Nations. Some of the Surveyors of the Association have been gazetted by the Ghana Maritime Authority to do Statutory and other surveys on their behalf. We encourage all and sundry to do well to patronize this all important conference.”

12. Ziad Hamoui, President at Borderless Alliance, said: “West Africa is poised for unprecedented economic growth. Private sector partners have established the Borderless Alliance to achieve the changes necessary to increase trade. The region‟s economic future is at stake and organizations are invited to join the Alliance and contribute to reducing the delays and costs of doing trade and removing regional trade barriers.”

13. Gagan Seksaria, CFO & Business Development Head of ICTSI (Africa), added: “Our participation and enthusiasm about this conference is a reflection of, on the one hand, the strong opportunity that Africa offers in the port infrastructure space and on the other, ICTSI‟s eagerness and appetite to invest in it. ICTSI, a global ports and terminals operator, is an emerging markets specialist and is well poised to add more African projects to its existing portfolio of 23 terminals across 17 countries globally.”

14. The CEO of the conference organizing company, Magenta Global Pte Ltd, Singapore, Maggie Tan, said: “The Conference & Expo will facilitate the exchange of fresh information, experience and knowledge towards achieving the objectives of enhancing port efficiency, reducing administrative burdens in ports, improving port financing & better delivery of port and logistics services.” Ms Tan encouraged companies, organizations, businesses and governments that share Magenta‟s vision for the future of sustainable port operations and logistics industry to be part of this key event.

15. The event will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Magenta Global Pte Ltd
Media Contact:
Jose Carpio
Marketing Manager
DID: +65 6392 2555
Email: jose@magenta-global.com.sg


Notes for Editor:

Owner & Organizer
Magenta Global Pte Ltd is a premier independent business media company that provides pragmatic and relevant information to government and business executives and professionals worldwide.

Gold Sponsor
Ghana Community Network Services Ltd (GCNet) was established to develop and operate a customized electronic system for processing trade and customs documents. To optimize this service, the GCNet website has been designed to provide information about the service, such as: how to access the TradeNet; procedures for electronic clearances; various codes used during clearance (HS, CPC, Duty and Tax, Freight Station and Warehouse); the status of arriving carriers and the rotation numbers assigned to them by Customs; indicative values of used vehicles.

Gold Sponsor
Meridian Port Services Limited (MPS) is a public-private partnership between Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Meridian Port Holdings Limited, which is in turn a joint venture with Bollore and APM Terminals as the two main shareholders. MPS operates a container terminal that handles seaborne freight traffic in Ghana. Its services include stevedoring of containers, shore handling, and storage and delivery.

Badge & Lanyard Sponsor
International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) is involved in the management, operation and development of ports and terminals. Incorporated in 1987, ICTSI is the Philippines' largest and most successful container terminal operator, and has become a world leader in this business of providing container handling, storage and related services to shipping lines and cargo owners.

Exhibitor
Borderless Alliance is a campaign to increase trade across West Africa. The Borderless Alliance is a private sector-led partnership advocating for reduced costs and delays in the movement of goods, vehicles, services and people. Join the Alliance and the movement to increase trade in West Africa.

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Magenta Global is a premier business media company that provides pragmatic and relevant information through training courses, specialist business forums, and international conferences and exhibitions for government and business professionals worldwide.