By Foster Obi
The Nigerian Ports Authority would be hosting the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) Africa Regional Conference in Abuja, Nigeria from September 17 – 19, 2018.
According to information obtained from the Local Organising Committee, the theme for the conference to be held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, will be “African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity”. The event will draw key stakeholders in port and harbours from across the African continent and other parts of the world.
The statement signed by Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mrs Ugo Madubuike, said:
“The IAPH Africa Conference which will be declared open by the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria will assemble key experts and stakeholders in the port logistics and transport industry to provide a deeper understanding of the concept of port hinterland connectivity, assess the present landscape of Africa’s port sector and the challenges faced in hinterland connectivity, discuss the experiences of port hinterland connectivity in other parts of the world compared to Africa, explore possible critical solutions, and recommend best home-grown models that would enable Africa to improve on its port hinterland connectivity and intraregional trade”
The statement explained that the conference theme will be discussed under four different categories namely: • Connectivity and port hinterlands: components, modal options; • Funding options for hinterland connectivity – hard and soft infrastructure; • Africa’s ports landscape: infrastructure, governance models, and landlocked transit corridors and • Sustainability and facilitation of the logistics and transport supply chain
The International Association of Ports and Harbors, with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, was founded in 1955 as a global professional group for seaports operators across the world.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, was elected Vice President, IAPH (Africa Region) in July 2017 after a keenly contested election with other heads of port Authorities in Africa.
The Conference will attract local participation from Nigeria’s maritime and trade sectors and international participation from key organizations like the World Trade Organization, the International Maritime Organization, UNCTAD, various African trade corridors including the Lagos Abidjan trade corridor and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Antwerp Port Authority, Guangzhou Port Authority and African Ports such as:
(i)Transnet National Port Authority (South Africa), (ii) Kenya Ports Authority, (iii) Douala Port Authority (Cameroon), (iv) Nigerian Ports Authority, (v) Cotonou Port Authority (Benin), (vi) Abidjan Port Authority (Cote d’Ivoire), (vii) Dakar Port Authority (Senegal), (viii) Tanger Med Port (Morocco), (ix) Port of Alexandria (Egypt)
The lead sponsors of the Conference are Intels Nigeria Ltd and Greenview Limited of the Dangote Group. Other confirmed sponsors are the Dredging International Services Nigeria, Depasa Marine, NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Registration for attendance and sponsorship is open on the Conference website: www.iaphabuja2018
