ADDRESS OF THE ABIDJAN PORT AUTHORITY’s MANAGING DIRECTOR AT THE ITALY-COTE DIVOIRE PROMOTIONAL MEETING, ROMA 16 SEPTEMBER 2022

Visite de travail Thursday 23 March 2023

“The Italy-Cote D’Ivoire Promotional Meeting’’ took place in Roma on 16 September 2022.Inaugurated by the Ivorian Prime Minister, Mr. Patrick ACHI in the presence of the representative of the Italian Minister of Foreign affairs and closed by His Excellency Mr. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic. The meeting was structured around two thematic sessions “presentation of the 2021-2025 priority projects of the National Development program (PND)” and ‘’incentive mechanisms provided to organizations”.

 In his statement, during the second thematic session, Mr Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director, Abidjan Port Authority reassured and encouraged Italian investors by presenting an overview of the Abidjan Port Authority, as well as the assets and vision of this state corporation.

As regards the current situation, Mr SIÉ told the Italian investors that Abidjan Port Authority was operating at full capacity. In fact, PAA has met the 2011 challenge characterized by severe impediments to port operation such as: shallow water draft, inadequate configuration of Vridi Canal which makes it impossible to receive big ships; congestion in the handling operation areas, congestion of traffic lanes and shortage of industrial lands. Presently, the Port Authority is achieving full development thanks to its advantageous location along the Atlantic coast of Africa.

In his vision, the Managing Director of PAA indicated that his institution has the ambition, in the short term, to become a leading port on the West African Coast and a Reference Hub Port on the Atlantic Coast of Africa.

Moreover, the Managing Director recalled that the port has many key assets to achieve its ambition.

As regards the country’s assets, ECOWAS has a population of 387 million inhabitants, made up with 120 million people which form the  the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) using a single currency. Cote d’Ivoire is the economic driver of UEMOA for which it provides 40% of GDP. With its steady upward trend (6% to 10%), Cote d’Ivoire is the second more dynamic economy of the ECOWAS sub-region. The interest of the Ivorian government coupled with the political will of the president of the republic Mr Alassane OUATTARA to see the Port Authority reach its objectives and fulfill its ambitions constitute major assets. Lastly the leading position of Cote d’Ivoire in the trade of exportable raw materials. ( abundance of agricultural products, an expanding mining and oil sector) greatly contributes to the development of port activity.

*As regards the port’s assets, Mr. SIÉ recalled that the port’s estate covers an area of 1860 ha, of which 1000 ha of water area. The Port Authority provides 15 ha of warehouses and sheds, and 35 ha of open storage in the bonded area. With a balanced import-export traffic, a certification to ISO 9001/2015 standards and a certification to Is PS Code, Abidjan Port Authority is endowed with the potential to attract reliable maritime economic operators willing to make investments.

After having reassured his interlocutors about the sound economic and security situation as well as a well managed strategic vision of Abidjan Port Authority, Mr SIÉ made the following conclusion; “I would like to tell all the Heads of Italian companies present here, who are willing to invest in Cote d’Ivoire, that they are most welcome”.

Doctor Titi Palé