CÔTE D’IVOIRE TERMINAL OPENS A NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL TO MAKE THE PORT OF ABIDJAN THE MAIN PORT HUB IN WEST AFRICA
Press release, Abidjan, 05 December 2022 – The Vice-President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Tiémoko Meyliet KONÉ, officially inaugurated the second container terminal of the Port of Abidjan on 2 December 2022, in the presence of members of the government, including Mr Amadou KONÉ, Minister of Transport, Mr Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director of the Abidjan Port Authority, Mr Philippe LABONNE, CEO of Bolloré Africa Logistics, and Mr Frederik KLINKE, Director for Africa at APM Terminals, along with members of Abidjan’s port community.
This platform, which is part of the 2030 strategic vision of the Ivorian authorities, aims to provide Côte d’Ivoire with a high-performance tool serving as a port hub connected to Bolloré Africa Logistics’ multimodal logistics network (sea, rail, road). It will also allow us the company to offer adapted solutions to shipowners, shippers and freight forwarding agents for the import, export and transit of goods, from and to Côte d’Ivoire.
“We are proud of the completion of this important project which is part of the strategic plan to modernise the infrastructure of the port of Abidjan. This new terminal will contribute to the long-term repositioning of the Port of Abidjan as a key logistics platform on the West African coast.” said Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director of the Abidjan Port Authority.
The project, which was carried out with the involvement of several local companies, required a total investment of 596 billion CFA francs (about €914 million), of which 334 billion CFA francs (about €512 million) for earthworks and the creation of 37.5 hectares of yard to be paid for by the Abidjan Port Authority and 262 billion CFA francs (about €402 million) for the superstructure works, financed by Bolloré Ports and APM Terminals, holders of the concession for the new terminal through their joint subsidiary, Côte d’Ivoire Terminal.
“We are delighted with the completion of this major project which reflects the commitment made by Côte d’Ivoire Terminal to increase volumes and boost import and export flows in Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa. This new infrastructure, equipped with the latest innovations, perfectly showcases our commitment to the development of port activities in Africa.” explained Philippe Labonne, CEO of Bolloré Africa Logistics.
“Together with our co-shareholder Bolloré Ports, we are providing the Port of Abidjan with an infrastructure that meets international standards and is designed to accommodate the latest generation of vessels. Its commissioning will redistribute incoming and outgoing flows to the port of Abidjan, develop a transhipment platform and offer a new connection and highly competitive services to shipowners.” said Koen de Backker, Managing Director of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal.
Built in accordance with the latest environmental standards, the new container terminal in the port of Abidjan will also be one of the next Bolloré Ports terminals to be awarded the Green Terminal label following an audit by Bureau Veritas1.
1 More information on the process of obtaining a Green Terminal label is available in the press kit at the following address: https://www.bollore-transport-logistics.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Dossier_de_Presse-Green_Terminal_FR.pdf
