Ports yes, but on condition that they are connected to roads and railways. Fréderic Maury advises African states. A fine connoisseur of the African economy, he published, with Okan Partners, a new report on the maritime development of the continent.
RFI: In this Okan Partners report, you describe the major port platforms in Africa. Real pillars for the future of the continent.
Frédéric Maury: Indeed, four ports, Durban [in South Africa, editor’s note] Tanger-Med [in Morocco, editor’s note] all the Egyptian ports and the port of Lomé [Togo, editor’s note]. All these hubs [large platforms, editor’s note] are real strongholds in Africa. Cargo ships unload their goods there which are then transported within the country, to its neighbors and elsewhere on the continent or around the world.
You say in this report that the success of these ports is due to the presence, next to the port, of factories and economic companies.
Perfectly! This is the challenge of good maritime development. Know how to glue the construction of products to the docks of seaports.
You salute, among others, the port of Tanger-Med in Morocco.
Yes, Morocco wanted to develop its automobile and aeronautical equipment industry by placing factories near the port.
You advise African governments that would like to develop their own ports not to want to eat everything! It’s better to start small and then become more powerful and bigger.
Now that there are these large goods transfer platforms, the point is to develop your own strategy with your own resources. Build ports linked to an industry, products or know-how typical of the country in question. I am thinking of trade and the cutting of wood for example or other riches…
Like the port of Shenzhen in China?
It is indeed a remarkable case that we cite in the report! This small Chinese port was in the 2000s a small fishing port in southern western China. It is today the 15th commercial port in the world!
You regret it, Africa is developing too slowly. One of your strategies to accelerate and increase the wealth of the continent is to build roads and other means of communication.
It is obvious ! The success of the ports mentioned in our conversation is due to this. All countries have developed their train and road networks, and even built new airports. It is a political will.
The success of a public/private partnership?
Yes ! This is what our report highlights. A country cannot finance everything. We must know how to count on private partners while continuing to have a part in the participation of the projects.
The news of 2024 with attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, near Eritrea, is catching up with port news. Many shipping companies avoid the region and avoid the Suez Canal further north in Egypt by routing their loads along South Africa. Do you think that certain African ports will gain?
Yes ! Without hesitation, I will say that this will undoubtedly increase the value and attract interest from East African ports. Often old and poorly managed ports. This is already the case for the port of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. This port has just been conceded to the Dubai logistics giant Dp World.
