TRANSPORT SECTOR: ABIDJAN PORT AUTHORITY PARTICIPATED IN THE 7TH EDITION OF FISAT

Activités portuaires Friday 19 January 2024

The 7th edition of the Forum International et Salon Africain des Transports (FISAT-international forum and African exhibition on transport) was inaugurated on Wednesday 29 November 2023 at the Abidjan exhibition centre in the presence of the Prime Minister, Minister for Sport and the Living Environment, Head of Government, HEM. Robert BEUGRÉ MAMBÉ.

The main topic of the 2023 edition of FISAT was "Modernising Logistics, Transport and Infrastructure Ecosystems: Sustainability, Safety, Digitalisation and Youth Employability. What Challenges and Opportunities for Tomorrow's Africa? " The guest country was Morocco, whose Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, HEM. Abdelmalek KETTANI, represented the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, Logistics and Water.

The Abidjan Port Authority (PAA), recently awarded the Prize for Excellence by the President of the Republic, HEM. Alassane Ouattara, for the best contribution to the development of the transport sector, was also present at that important African event.

In his opening speech, HEM. Robert BEUGRÉ MAMBÉ outlined his expectations for the development of the transport sector in Côte d'Ivoire and the West African region. In his opinion, the development of transport infrastructures is of paramount importance.

He therefore expressed the hope that FISAT would focus on the various problems in this sector in order to come up with concrete proposals that would be immediately applicable and beneficial to Côte d'Ivoire and all ECOWAS countries. "We expect this forum to produce conclusions that will enable us to participate, together with our financial partners and operators, in the development of transport in Côte d'Ivoire and Africa," said the Head of Government. He also congratulated the Minister of Transport, Mr. Amadou KONE, for all the innovations made in that booming sector.

Distinguished personalities were present at the opening ceremony of FISAT, including Mr. Alioune Omar TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Amadou KONÉ, Minister of Transport, Mr. Watabouna OUATTARA, Minister Delegate in charge of African Integration and Ivorians from Diaspora, Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director of  PAA and all the cream of the Ivorian and African transport sector.

In his speech, Mr. Amadou KONÉ reassured the assistance that the Ivorian transport sector had a clear strategy for development. For him, the meeting would allow all actors, not only to present that strategy in order to instill the same dynamic in all the countries of the West African region, but also to make strong recommendations to improve the already significant achievements. 

The Managing Director of  PAA, Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ, who works significantly to promote transport in Côte d’Ivoire, through the development of port infrastructures, co-hosted a plenary session on Thursday 30 November 2023, on the topic, “Regional Hubs and Their Economic Impacts: What Contribution of Our Ports?”

The exchanges provided Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ with an opportunity to showcase the role of ports in the globalization of the commercial economy, with the Abidjan Port playing a significant role in the economic development of Côte d'Ivoire.

Earlier in the same day, the Director of Engineering and Project Management of  PAA, Mr. N'DOLI Kouadio André, conducted a panel on another topic, “Abidjan Port Authority: Assets and Attractions of a  Hub Port.”

The objective was to present the key role played by the Abidjan Port in maritime transport and logistics in Côte d'Ivoire, and even in the West African sub-region.

The three days of exchanges brought together many experts from the transport sector, and were marked by the richness of scientific debates focused on contemporary mobility issues in Africa. The main focus was on identifying innovative solutions that address both the safety and fluidity of travel, as well as the transition to cleaner and more sustainable transport.

During the closing ceremony, Mr. Coné DIOMAN, who heads the Cabinet of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Amadou KONÉ, expressed his sincere gratitude to all the participants for the high quality of their interventions. While welcoming the significant contribution of the event, he assured that the conclusions of the work at the FISAT, would be transmitted to the government for review.

The 7th edition of the FISAT closed its doors on Friday 1December 2023.