CONAKRY, November 19 (Xinhua) – Representatives from about twenty countries gathered in Conakry on Monday to discuss the efficiency of maritime ports in West and Central Africa, according to official sources.
This meeting, titled « Optimizing Hinterland Connectivity: Challenges of Connectivity, Fluidity, and Reliability, » is part of the 44th Annual Council of the West and Central Africa Ports Management Association (AGPAOC), aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in the port sector.
According to Mamadou Biro Diallo, CEO of the Autonomous Port of Conakry, the connectivity between ports and the hinterland depends on the diversity of infrastructure, including roads, railways, and sometimes waterways.
Mohamed Bakayoko, Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport, highlighted the notable progress in the maritime and transport sectors in Guinea. He stated that « transport and logistics play a crucial role in the economic and social development of a country, » and added that it is essential to identify ways to improve this connectivity to foster economic growth and access to international markets.
The country’s Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, expressed the government’s satisfaction at hosting this important sub-regional meeting. « With our access to the Atlantic Ocean, we aim to share this advantage with our landlocked countries, such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and even Chad, » he said.
He also emphasized that « the economic free trade zone will not be truly effective without adequate railway infrastructure. » The Guinean PM promised the construction of new ports as well as the development of a trans-Guinean corridor linking Ivory Coast, in addition to the revitalization of the central axis from Conakry to the Malian border.
Source: xinhuanet
