Benin: Dissolution of Société Béninoise de Manutention Portuaire (SOBEMAP) gives way to the creation of a new handling company at the port of Cotonou

The Council of Ministers which met today, Wednesday 30 November 2022, under the presidency of Mr Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin, pronounced the creation of a new handling company in the port of Cotonou.

The current modernisation of the port of Cotonou is leading to the reorganisation of port activities around three main terminals, namely: a multipurpose terminal, a container terminal and a bulk terminal under construction.

Such a context calls for more professionalism and specialisation of the actors, and requires the mobilisation of important financial means by the handlers.

This is why the Beninese government has decided to create a new handling company to manage the multipurpose terminal and the bulk terminal.

This decision has the double advantage of allowing the port to benefit from the expertise of the strategic partner, its shipping network which will lead to an increase in port traffic and its capacity to mobilise the necessary financing for the acquisition of modern handling equipment.

Of mixed economy with a capital carried by the State and a strategic partner of international reference, the new handling company will take over from the Société Béninoise des Manutentions Portuaires (SOBEMAP) whose low level of competitiveness is explained in particular by its status as a public company which does not facilitate flexibility and adaptation to the requirements of international maritime trade. Also, the low investment capacity of SOBEMAP does not allow it to adapt its equipment to the needs of the maritime industry in perpetual change as well as the structure of its operating costs.

Furthermore, it should be recalled that the Council of Ministers of 14 September 2022 had acted on the creation of the single hiring office whose upcoming operationalization will ensure better management of dockers by offering them better working and living conditions.

For all these reasons, the Council of Ministers decided to proceed to the dissolution of SOBEMAP, to appoint its liquidator and to engage the process of creation of the new mixed company of handling.

Maritimafrica