CMA CGM / DELMAS Trade-Watch - Issue 37 - June 2014 by CMA CGM Group

TRADE-WATCH

AFRICA

ISSUE 37 | JUNE 2014

CMA CGM / DELMAS CARGO INSURANCE

Full Story On Page 7

Cameroon: Kribi Port Opened

Guinea: Deepwater Port And Railway

Namibia: Walvis Bay A Strategic Economic Asset

TRADE-WATCH

AFRICA

ISSUE 37 | JUNE 2014

Contents

03 /

African Group News

11 /

Pan Africa

15 /

Western Africa

23 /

Eastern Africa

29 /

Southern Africa

THE TRADE & TRANSPORT REPORT Brought to you by CMA CGM / DELMAS Marketing Website: www.delmas.com Email: lhv.marketing@delmas.net Tweet: @DelmasWeDeliver

Rachel Bennett

Dominic Rawle

CMA CGM / DELMAS Cargo Insurance

CMA CGM Marseille Head Office 4, Quai dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arenc 13235 Marseille cedex 02 France Tel : +33 (0)4 88 91 90 00 www.cmacgm.com

Disclaimer of Liability CMA CGM / DELMAS make every effort to provide and maintain usable, and timely information in this report. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose, of the information. Accordingly Delmas denies any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on any published information. Conclusions drawn from, or actions undertaken on the basis of, such data and information are the sole responsibility of the reader.

Cameroon: Kribi Port Opened

Guinea: Deepwater Port And Railway

Namibia: Walvis Bay Namport A Strategic Economic Asset

30 2

CMA CGM / DELMAS

AFRICAN GROUP NEWS CMA CGM / DELMAS Upgrades SAMWAF Service NEW Lome Call CMA CGM / DELMAS has improved its ‘SAMWAF’ service with direct and regular calls on the South America East Coast - West Africa trade, as from the end of May, 2014. The upgrade will bring to the service larger vessels and add 2-new calls in Lomé [Togo] and Rio de Janeiro [Brazil]. The new structure reinforces the commitment of the Group to develop relationships between South America and Africa and offers a wide range of connection opportunities through local feeders, barges and transshipment. Competitive Advantages - Fortnightly frequency - New call in Lomé [Togo] added from May 2014 - New call in Rio de Janeiro [Brazil] from August 2014 - Connection opportunities in South America at Montevideo and Asunción via Itajaí - Connection via Lome hub for cargo to Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and other WAF destinations - Inland transportation is also provided by integrated intermodal solutions The SAMWAF service will operate according to the following rotation: Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, Itajai, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Lome, Pointe Noire, Luanda, Buenos Aires. The service will be configured in 2-stages. Phase 1 from the end of May to August 2014 the Group will share allocation on 2500 TEU NileDutch vessels. During Phase 2 from August 2014 onwards the Group and NileDutch will enter into Vessel Sharing Agreement. Four vessels of 4250 TEU will be operated, of which two will be contributed by CMA CGM and two by NileDutch.

CMA CGM / DELMAS Upgrades Rhino Express Service NEW Longoni, Mayotte Call Added CMA CGM / DELMAS has enhanced its ‘Rhino Express’ intra-coastal feeder service from South Africa to Mozambique with the introduction of a direct call at Longoni on Mayotte off the coast of Southeast Africa. The revised rotation will cover Durban, Maputo, Beira, Nacala, Longoni, Pemba, Quelimane, Maputo. Sailings will be provided twice a month and will continue to use 600 teu ‘MCP’ type uncelled container vessels, the MCP LINZ and ONEGO BURAN. The new call at Longoni will give Mozambique shippers new shipment opportunities to and from India, the Middle East and the rest of Africa, via a connection at Longoni to the CMA CGM-DELMAS India-Middle East-Africa ‘MIDAS’ service. This will add to the transhipment opportunities already offered via Durban. Additionally, connections will be offered to various destinations in the Indian Ocean, via transhipment on the CMA CGM-DELMAS Madagascar Feeder service, that covers Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius Island from Longoni. Rhino Express Transit Times To

Durban

Maputo

Beira

Nacala

Longoni

Mutsamudu

Moroni

Majuga Mahajanga

Nosy Be

Tamatave

Antsiranana

Vohemar

Export partners

France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion

Export commodities

Ylang-ylang [perfume essence], vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

Import partners

France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11%

Import commodities

Food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals

CMA CGM / DELMAS

AFRICAN GROUP NEWS CMA CGM-DELMAS To Boost Somalia Service NOURA EXPRESS Goes Fortnightly CMA CGM / DELMAS has improved the frequency of its Middle East-Kenya-Somalia ‘Noura Express’ service to a fortnightly sailing. The move sees deployment of an additional vessel the 1,613 TEU MV Osaka trader to partner the existing 1,850 teu CMA CGM KAILAS. Previously the service sailed every 21 days. The ‘Noura Express’ covers Jebel Ali, Khor Fakkan, Salalah, Mombasa, Mogadishu and Jebel Ali. The service was originally launched in January as a Somalia feeder service and extended in April to Kenya with the addition of a call at Mombasa. The ‘Noura Express’ is mainly dedicated to Somalia and can handle dry cargo containers, reefer containers, out of gauge goods and project cargo as well as catering in particular to United Nations-related cargoes. It connects at Khor Fakkan with the CMA CGM-Delmas intercontinental services.

CMA CGM / DELMAS Upgrades MIDAS Service Serves Apapa, Nigeria, From India Middle East Gulf In addition to our direct ‘MIDAS’ service from India Middle East Gulf direct to Tin Can, Lagos we also provide coverage of Apapa port, Lagos, from India Middle East Gulf though a relay service via our Cotonou hub in Benin. Furthermore we offer connections to Onne via Pointe Noire, Congo. From/To

Tin Can

Apapa

Onne

Mundra, India

Nhava Sheva, India

Khorfakkan, UAE

Jebel Ali, UAE

Service

MIDAS

MIDAS / WAX2

MIDAS / PC South

Modus Operandi

Direct

Via Cotonou

Via Pointe Noire

CMA CGM / DELMAS Offer Direct Services To Angola First Line To Offer Direct Services With 5,700 TEU Vessels CMA CGM / DELMAS has became the first shipping company to operate vessels of 5,700 TEU capacity as a direct service to Angola. The ER CANADA called at Luanda on May 17th following port calls at Namibia in early May and Congo in mid-May. This maiden call was celebrated during a cocktail gathering more than a hundred customers, officials, including the Vice Governor of the Province of Luanda, the Ambassador of France in Angola, the Port Authorities of Luanda.

CMA CGM / DELMAS

AFRICAN GROUP NEWS NEW: Cargo Insurance Protecting The Value Of Your Cargo During transit, your cargo is exposed to various risks, despite the safety measures put in place by carriers.

CONTACT

Damages or losses may occur during handling, storage or transport operations: this could have a serious impact on your business. CMA CGM / DELMAS has developed insurance solutions for you that address these risks.

If you have any questions or require a quotation please contact

ADVANTAGES - Broad coverage: â&#x20AC;&#x153;All Risksâ&#x20AC;? basis - Low rates negotiated only for our clients - One stop shop - No excess. Covers up to the full Cost Insurance and Freight [CIF] value plus 10% - Simple and quick process for claims. Payment within 30 days - A first class insurer - From one-off shipment to regular traffic offering flexibility

ho.insurance_quote@cma-cgm.com

WEBSITE You can view our dedicated website area at http://www.delmas.com/productsservices/cargo-insurance

NEW: Booking And Shipping Instruction Summary Print Option Available A print option for your Booking and Shipping Instruction summary is now available on line. If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Support at http://www.delmas.com/help/contact

CO2 Reporting New Functionality On CMA CGM Ebusiness Platform Customers can obtain their own carbon footprint for each booking on a door-to-door basis in multimodal & multi-carrier mode. The emission display can be accessed at http://www.cma-cgm.com/products-services/ ecommerce/online-registration. CO2 emission is automatically available in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;shipment detailsâ&#x20AC;? section once transportation is completed. Future developments will enable reports with variable criteria [such as reported period, specific services/ zones, group subsidiary, etc] providing you with personalized CO2 dashboards. CMA CGM new CO2 reporting is in full compliance with French legal requirement, French Grenelle Law II which sets the obligation to provide CO2 information to the beneficiary of a transportation service. For years, CMA CGM Group had been developing its own CO2 reporting system to monitor the emission of its fleet of cellular ships. Through its active participation in the Clean Cargo Working Group, it contributed to the development of the official calculation methodology which is now the reference in the shipping industry. For more information, please contact: ho.environment@cma-cgm.com 8

CMA CGM / DELMAS

AFRICAN GROUP NEWS CMA CGM Corporate Foundation for Children: Humanitarian Transport Operation To Africa The CMA CGM Corporate Foundation for Children announced an extension of its Containers of Hope operation and signs a partnership with 3-NGOs to mark ‘African Children Day’ on June 16th. The Foundation decided to put the expertise of CMA CGM at the service of major French NGOs. Containers of Hope was launched in 2012 to ship humanitarian aid to Africa for free. To date the program has transported 170 containers equating to 1,340 tons of equipment to Africa. The initiative works with ‘Doctors without Borders’ and ‘Action Against Hunger’ and has this month expanded the operation to other continents as well as establishing a new partnership with ‘Handicap International’ www.handicap-international.org - for underprivileged children. Handicap International was a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize as a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines which led to the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty.

“

Logistics and transportation of material and equipment represent on average 20% of the costs of a humanitarian program. To be able to benefit from free shipping for our humanitarian material is a tremendous support.

”

General Manager of Handicap International France Jean-Marc Boivin The Foundation counts on the positioning of the CMA CGM Group in 43 African countries, through 72 agencies and 48 ports of call. Actions undertaken in Africa include:

- Fight against child malnutrition in Mali, Niger, Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia - Mother and child health program in Southern Sudan, Ivory Coast - Assistance to the conflict victims in Republic of Central Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo - Support to hospitals in Congo-Brazzaville - Water sanitation program in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia - Fight against malaria in Mali - Fight against HIV and tuberculosis in Malawi - Educational support in Madagascar 9

PAN AFRICA

TRADE Africa Foreign Direct Investment At 10-Year High Africa’s share of global foreign direct investment [FDI] has reached its highest level in a decade, with FDI in sub-Saharan Africa leading the trend, according to EY’s 2014 Africa Attractiveness Survey. The report combined analysis of international investment into Africa since 2003 with a 2014 survey of over 500 global business leaders. There was a noticeable divide between FDI trends in North and sub-Saharan Africa. FDI project numbers had declined from 774 in 2012 to 750 in 2013, primarily as a result of ongoing uncertainty in North Africa which declined by nearly 30% last year. However projects in sub-Saharan African increased by 4.7%, reversing the decline of 2012 and further widening the gap between the 2-subregions, with sub-Saharan Africa’s share of FDI projects in Africa now exceeding 80% of total FDI. The report also found that investors were looking beyond the more established markets of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya to expand their operations, and were also moving into more consumer-related sectors in line with the expansion of Africa’s middle class. In 2013, both West and East Africa surpassed North Africa for the first time, becoming the second- and third-most attractive sub regions in Africa after Southern Africa. The UK and US were clear investment leaders with South Africa in third place. There was also sharp uptake in FDI projects by Spanish and Japanese companies with increases of 52% and 77% respectively. Meanwhile, African investors nearly tripled their share of FDI projects in the last decade from 8% in 2003 to 22.8% in 2013. This growth was fuelled by the need for improved regional value chains and the strengthening of regional integration, while African investors’ understanding of the market and of the potential opportunities and challenges also drove growth.

Projects South Africa

142

Kenya

Nigeria

Ghana

Mozambique

Zambia [New entrant] 25 There was a significant shift away from extractive industries towards consumer-related sectors in 2013 such as technology and telecommunications, retail, financial services,real Uganda [New entrant] 21 estate, hospitality and construction. When asked about the sectors that would offer the highest growth potential for Africa in the next 2-years, investors highlighted the rising importance of agriculture, which ranked only marginally behind mining and metals. Increasingly, infrastructure was also perceived as a key growth sector along with consumer-facing industries. Looking ahead, Africa’s growth prospects were likely to remain solid as an urbanisisng and rising middle class drove demand for consumer products and improved services. [Engineering News 15/05/14]

US FOCUS: Africa Trade Mission & Business Forum The United States sees tremendous economic opportunity in Africa. US-Africa Business Forum To deepen commercial relationships between Secretary Pritzker announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies will co-host a ‘US-Africa Business Forum’ on the first day of the upcoming ‘Africa Leaders Summit’ in August in Washington, DC. President Obama is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. The forum will be the first summit of its kind and the largest that any U.S. president has ever convened with African heads of state or government. The goal is to forge partnerships rooted in shared interests, make deeper transatlantic ties and explore collaborative solutions to unlock economic growth and opportunity. It will focus on U.S. private sector engagement in Africa in the areas of finance and capital investment, infrastructure, power and energy, agriculture, consumer goods, and information communication technology. US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa Launched by President Obama in 2012 the ‘US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa’ laid out a comprehensive policy that would achieve 4-specific aims: strengthening democratic institutions; advancing peace and security; promoting opportunity and development; and spurring economic growth, trade, and investment. Energy Business Development Trade Mission Pritzker was recently in Africa leading 20 American companies on an Energy Business Development trade mission to Ghana and Nigeria. Studies show that Africa will need US$300 billion to achieve universal electricity by 2030 The U.S. Government has committed US$7 billion toward Power Africa, and has secured additional commitments totaling US$14 billion from 35 privatesector partners. African Growth and Opportunity Act The U.S is also pushing for the seamless renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, of which Nigeria is the top beneficiary. The AGOA allows 6,400 products from eligible Sub-Saharan African countries to enter the U.S. duty free. For 2013, U.S. imports under AGOA totaled US$26.8 billion. Commerce Department Expansion The Commerce Department itself is dedicating more human resources to Africa. Nigeria is home to one of the largest commercial service teams and the department intends to expands its commercial service in Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Libya. And for the first time ever will open offices in Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. [US Dept of Commerce 21/05/14

PAN AFRICA

TRADE IMF: Infrastructure, Institutions, People Key To Africa’s Sustained Rise International Monetary Fund’s [IMF] MD Christine Lagarde has reaffirmed that sub-Saharan Africa should grow by about 5.5% this year and attract a record US$80-billion in investment. However, she warned that there was an urgent need to build infrastructure, build institutions and build people not only to sustain the growth momentum, but also to ensure that the benefits of that growth were more widely shared. In a keynote address to the ‘Africa Rising – Building to the Future’ conference in Maputo, Mozambique, Lagarde said that, although two-thirds of the countries in the region had enjoyed ten or more years of uninterrupted growth and the outlook was positive, “the tide of growth has not lifted all boats”. Poverty remains stuck at unacceptably high levels – still afflicting about 45% of the region’s households. Inequality remains high. And some countries, still facing recurring internal conflict, are struggling to exit from fragility.” There were also the headwinds of slower growth outlooks for both advanced economies and commodityconsuming emerging-market economies, the weaker commodity price outlook and tightening external financial conditions as advanced economies began reining in their accommodative monetary policies. The IMF expects China to grow at a slower pace of around 7.5% this year and is forecasting the US economy to expand by 2.8% in 2014. Analysts suggest that a 1% decline in GDP growth in China translates to an average 0.2% point decline in emergingmarket economy growth. Africa’s growth performance has not only been the result of higher commodity prices and exports, but also due to the end of a number of civil conflicts, as well as improvements in governance and infrastructure. Lagarde noted Africa needed to focus on closing its energy, transport and technology infrastructure gaps. Only 16% of all roads are paved, compared with 58% in South Asia. These shortfalls represent huge costs to businesses and to people. The second policy priority related to building institutions that ensured better governance and transparency. [Creamer 29/05/14]

Africa Must Accelerate Integration To Promote Trade And Industrialization Participants at the African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings session on ‘Facilitating Africa’s Trade’ agreed African countries should accelerate integration to promote trade and industrialization by changing mindsets. Noting that Africa cannot prosper with 54 fragmented markets. The conference attended by Ministers of Trade, representatives of international organisations and business leaders, said that it was time to “just do it” [integration]. Inter-African trade is said to be rising slowly to around 11% in 2013 while Africa’s trade with the rest of the world is below 3%. Some participants suggested the banning export of unprocessed primary commodities and raw materials, as well as allow free movement of goods across African borders in order to encourage production and trade. The conference analyzed global and regional trends in trade facilitation and drew lessons to better inform future interventions in the light of the potential impacts of the WTO’s ongoing Trade Facilitation Agreement. Harmonisation of government policies and political will to implement such policies were crucial to the realization of Africa’s integration agenda. Africa needed to invest in productive capacity, educational skills acquisition, leverage competitiveness among the SMEs and promote market linkages were inevitable facilitators to African trade. On the role of financial institutions in promoting trade facilitation, the President of African Export-Import Bank, Jean Louis Ekra, urged African governments to exploit the fast changes taking place in the African banking system to allow financial flows to support business transactions. He also urged greater cooperation among the commercial banks on trade related issues. Full involvement of the private sector were advertised as potential game changers in Africa’s quest for integration, large scale production and full participation on global trade. [AfDB 21/05/14]

Singapore To Boost Economic Ties With Africa The 3rd ‘Africa Singapore Business Forum’ is to set the stage for stronger trade and investment flows between both markets. Singapore has emerged the largest investor in Africa among the ASEAN countries, according to the latest United Nations’ World Investment Report 2013. Located strategically in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s economic ties with Africa have been on the rise. As of end 2012, Singapore’s investments into Africa saw a compound annual growth rate of 11.2% over the previous 5-years, reaching US$15.9 billion. Singapore-Africa trade has also increased, reaching US$11.1 billion in 2013, achieving a strong CAGR of 11.7% since 2009. According to International Enterprise [IE www.iesingapore.com], the Singapore government agency promoting trade and overseas investments, there are currently over 60 Singapore companies operating in over 50 countries in Africa. Projects span a wide range of sectors from agri-business, food & beverage and oil & gas, to eGovernment services, information & communications technology, and transport & logistics. To help African and Singapore companies to connect and identify joint business opportunities, IE Singapore has been organising the Africa Singapore Business Forum [ASBF]. A premier business platform for fostering investment, trade and thought leadership between Asia and Africa, the third edition will be held in Singapore from 27-28 August 2014. [All Africa 04/06/14] Visit http://www.iesingapore.com/asbf for more information.

AfDB Announces US$2 Billion Fund With China The African Development Bank [AfDB] and the People’s Bank of China [PBOC] on May 22nd entered into a US$2 billion cofinancing fund. The Africa Growing Together Fund [AGTF] will be resourced over a 10-year period and will be used alongside the AfDB’s own resources to finance development projects in Africa. The AGTF enables an additional US$200 million p.a for largersized projects. This builds on the success of similar instruments such as the Nigeria Trust Fund, which has been in operation for 40 years. The AGTF is expected to co-finance projects before the end of 2014. [AfDB 22/05/14]

Luxembourg Becomes AfDB Member Luxembourg has become the African Development Bank’s [AfDB’s] 26th nonregional member country, further strengthening its commitment to contributing to Africa’s development through the use of the AfDB’s multilateral instruments. Over the next 8-years, Luxembourg would provide €25-million to the AfDB’s development efforts on the African continent. [Engineering News 14/05/14]

WESTERN AFRICA

ECOWAS Central African Bloc To Grow 5.5% – IMF Economic growth in the 6-nation Central African CEMAC bloc is set to double to between 5-5.5% this year on the back of increased oil production according to the International Monetary Fund. The CEMAC zone is made up of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Five of them produce oil, which accounts for 36% of the region’s GDP and 87% of total exports. Growth slipped to around 2.5% in 2013 due to a substantial decline in oil output. Inflation is expected to remain below 3%. The medium-term outlook appeared solid due to strong growth in non-oil sectors, but a projected decline in oil production in 2018/19 was expected to bring overall growth down. A worsening security situation linked to a conflict in Central African Republic and attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist movement in Nigeria could also cut into growth. [Reuters 05/06/14]

Gambia and Senegal Economic Cooperation Trade and economic relations between Gambia and Senegal have been enhanced with a renewed Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] between the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry [GCCI] and the Ziguinchor Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture [CCIAZ]. The 2-private sector apex bodies have agreed to facilitate trade and enhance economic relations, through their respective chambers, as well as adopt measures and mechanisms to promote trade and exports.They will be organizing trade missions and cooperating through the organization of consultative meetings and other forms of trade events for the promotion of trade of both countries. [The Point 05/06/14]

Nigeria, Belgium Bilateral Trade Volume Hits N442 Billion A Flanders Investment and Trade [FIT] mission to Nigeria took place from June 1-4th which saw 60 Belgian companies meeting potential trade partners in the fields of port equipment, power, transport, construction, dredging, agro-industry, health and infrastructure. The Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dirk Verheyen, revealed that bilateral trade between Belgium and Nigeria stood at N442.34 billion as at 2013. But huge trade imbalance exists between both countries as Nigeria’s exports to Belgium rose marginally by 3.9% to only about N15.58 billion [€73.48 million] in 2013 from about N14.98 billion [€70.69 million] in 2012. Belgium’s exports to Nigeria rose 35.6% to about N426.76 billion [€2.01 billion] in 2013 from about N314.6 billion [€1.48 billion] in 2012. [This Day 23/05/14]

WESTERN AFRICA

PORTS

Angola Sociedade Gestora De Terminais Signs 20 Year Concession To Operate Namibe Port Sociedade Gestora de Terminais S.A. [Sogester], an APM Terminals joint venture [JV] in Angola, has signed a 20 year concession to operate, maintain and develop the Port of Namibe, Angola, which serves the hinterland from Namibe to Menongue and through the city of Lubango. Sogester, the leading operator in Luanda, will invest in equipment, infrastructure, training, safety, and processes to improve productivity and increase the number of vessel calls and volumes going through Namibe as part of the port master plan designed to enhance Namibeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic growth, j transportation competitiveness and community. As the only port in Southern Angola, Namibe is in a strong commercial position located to some of the finest quality marble and granite sourcing in the world. The city is also the starting point of the 907 km long Caminho de Ferro de MoĂ§amedes railway. The port has a 480m berth with 10.5m depth and a 274m berth with 6m depth, serving both container and general cargo. The new port will significantly improve bulk handling capabilities. [PortNews 26/05/14]

WESTERN AFRICA

PORTS Cameroon Kribi Port Opened The 5-pre-qualified companies for a publicprivate partnership [PPP] for the contract to cover maintenance and operation of the Kribi port have until July 8th to make their bids to the project’s steering committee in Yaoundé. Each bid must be accompanied by a guarantee of 200 million FCFA. Following a call for expressions of interest made by the project’s steering on November 13, 2013, 5-companies were already shortlisted according to results published on March 7, 2014. The finalists are Necotrans-KPMO [Cameroon], International Container Terminal Services Inc. [Philippines], Société d’exploitation des portsMarsa [Morocco], Sea Invest-CLGG [France] and APM Terminals BV [Netherlands]. The first boat is officially expected to dock at Kribi deep water port in June 2014. Final preparations are being made for the formal opening in June of Cameroon’s deep-water port of Kribi that will play a key role in the export of iron ore and aluminum to international markets. The port on the Gulf of Guinea will also act as a regional hub for the export of commodities from landlocked Chad, the Central African Republic [CAR] and the Republic of Congo. The world’s largest cargo ships [Capesize] will be able to operate out of this port. The port has just received 2-tugs supplied last month by the Chinese government. Two terminals at Cameroon’s Kribi Industrial Port Complex will be ready for its first ships by June. The deep-water port, which was begun in 2012, has cost an estimated 500 billion CFA francs [US$1 billion]. Eximbank China provided 85% of the finance with the remaining 15% coming from the Cameroon government. The construction has been undertaken by the China Harbour Engineering Company. Furthermore Bouygues and DTP Terrassement are to build the Edea-Kribi railway. The 100km rail will link the energy town of Edea to the seaside city of Kribi. Goods would be ferried through this line to the Kribi deep seaport under construction. Bouygues and DTP Terrassement, a French consortium would construct the road.

Congo French Firm To Manage Brazzaville Port For 15 Years On 17/05/14 Congo’s Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry signed a 15 year management agreement with French firm Necotrans for the Port of Brazzaville and the countries secondary ports [PABPS]. Martin Blaise Boyamba and Gregory Querel, the Director-General of Port of Brazzaville and the CEO of Necotrans respectively, signed the deal in the presence of Congolese Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Rodolphe Adada. The initiative forms part of the FCFA 24 billion [US$50 million] modernisation and rehabilitation programme for the ports, to be completed in 2015. The move will improve the competitiveness of the Pointe Noire - Brazzaville corridor. [NECROTRANS already operates in Congo, mainly at PointeNoire, in port logistics, oil and transport.] [Afrique en Ligue 20/05/14]

Ghana Boankra Port, Eastern Railway Line Under One BOT The government has merged the construction of the Boankra Inland Port and the rehabilitation of the Eastern Railway Line into one project to be executed under a build, operate and transfer [BOT] agreement. A process leading to selection of a suitable investor has begun and is expected to be concluded before the end of the year. The ministry was currently concluding the process leading to the selection of a transactional advisor for the 2-projects. The projects would then be placed on tender for interested investors to bid. The Boankra Inland Port is expected to be the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maiden dry port that would augment the activities of the twin-sea ports in Takoradi and Tema. Its construction has, however, stalled, nearly a decade after it was conceived following the inability to secure the needed funds. The same applies to the Eastern Railway Line, which has suffered due to the lack of routine maintenance over the years. The government is mooted to apply part of the US$3 billion loan from the Chinese Development Bank into the 2-projects. The successful completion of the port and rehabilitation of the railway line would help ease congestion at the Tema and Takoradi ports while reducing the cost of transportation currently incurred by shippers and mines in the Eastern and Western regions. [Ghanaweb 20/05/14]

Takoradi Port Expansion: Breakwater Nears Completion Construction works to extend the existing 1.075km of breakwater at Takoradi Port, a crucial part of an ongoing expansion project, is near completion. More than 860m out of 1,087m of breakwater had been constructed which is expected to end in July this year. Contractors have begun preparations for the commencement of Phase-2 which would involve infrastructural works, including roads. On completion of Phase-1, work on dredging the access channel will start to a depth of >16m as well to allow larger sea vessels and improved turnaround times. And construction of a bulk terminal and the reclamation of more than 53,000 ha of land will also follow. There will also be the construction of an additional access road to the port and open storage areas for pipes, plant and machinery, among other equipment. Then project is being financed with a â&#x201A;Ź197 million loan. The port expansion would also make provision for oil and gas activities and have an area demarcated for servicing of various rigs operating along the coast of Africa, and as a fabrication yard to support the industry. Fifteen bids had been received at the end of the deadline for expression of interest in the development of a container, railway and cruise terminals. [Ghana Web 14/05/14]

WESTERN AFRICA

PORTS New Cranes To Facilitate Cargo Clearing The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority [GPHA] has taken delivery of 2-new mobile harbour cranes with modern features to facilitate the clearing and discharging of cargoes at the Tema and Takoradi Ports. The Liebherr cranes will help handle vessels with fragile gears and enhance operational efficiency, pending the execution of the master port expansion project. GPHA is expected to increase its cargo tonnage from 830,000 to 1-million tonnes and projects 2-million containers in 2015. One of the 2-units has been discharged in Takoradi. Each has a platinum system which can lift 30 tonnes of cargo and 2-sprinters capable of lifting 2-containers. Each came with a jumbo sag attachment which is capable of lifting 25 tonnes. [SpyGhana 28/05/14]

Hull Blyth Re-Opens Tema Port Storage Facility Hull Blyth Ghana re-opened its empty container depot in Tema after a US$2 million upgrade on 16th May. The depot, located adjacent the port is now the largest dedicated empty container storage depot in Ghana with a total surface area of 35,000m2 allowing 5,500 shipping containers to be stored on site at a time, and makes an annual throughput of 70,000 shipping containers. The facility operates 24 hours. The container depot has since 2013 introduced a container barcoding for effective tracking of containers. [Ghanaweb 21/05/14]

GPHA Wants To Partner Lonrho In Atuabo Free Port Project Local reports indicate the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority [GPHA] is ready to partner Lonhro PC in the joint venture [JV] development and management of a free port project at Atuabo in the Ellembele District of the Western Region. However it appears the Maritime and Dockworkers Union [MDU] agrees to the port, but does not accept Lonrho as the developer and has called for clarification on the exclusivity clause in the agreement An appeal has been lodged to Parliament to deliberate on the issue. The Atuabo Free Port project is expected to offer services in the oil and gas industry. [Ghana Web 17/05/14]

Guinea Deepwater Port And Railway Rio Tinto is in the final stages of sealing a US$20 billion deal on the Simandou mine iron ore deposits. The project includes the development a US$4-billion 4-berth deep-water port at Morebaya, construction of more than 1,000km new and upgraded roads as well as a US$7-billion 700km railway to carry iron ore from the Simandou mountain range. The port and railway would eventually be expanded to handle up to 100-million tonnes of minerals a year. The final stages of the deal involves formalising the partnership between Rio Tinto, Chinese aluminium company Chalco, the International Finance Corporation [IFC] and the government of Guinea on the Simandou project. Once this is done, Rio will begin construction to ensure that production gets underway by the end of 2020. 20

WESTERN AFRICA

PORTS Nigeria Fresh Moves to Achieve 48-Hour Cargo Clearance Various efforts to achieve 48-hour cargo clearance has been without success so the government, through the Ports Economic Regulator, is making new moves to ensure that importers can clear their goods within 2-days after arriving in the country. This time, the task appears to have fallen on the Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Shippers Council [NSC] which was recently appointed the Ports Economic Regulator. The government had succeeded in clearing a backlog of cargoes that caused congestion, but the situation soon built again. The present administration, determined to make a change, has constituted a Presidential Committee directly supervised by the Ministry of Finance, with the involvement of the Transport Ministry. The regulator organised a 1-day national discourse to find a lasting solution to port delays.

Shippers Council As Economic Regulator Members of the Maritime Arbitrators of Nigeria [MAN] has described the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council [NSC] as Ports Economic Regulator as coming at the right time for the purpose of achieving efficiency and productivity in the nation’s ports. MAN noted the association was an alternative means of settling disputes in the shipping industry as going to court to seek legal redress takes a long time and costly too, the alternative dispute resolution being championed by his group becomes very important. The Council’s role is both advisory and regulatory and is currently developing a framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution [ADR] for the good of the industry. [This Day 16/05/14]

As part of the port reforms, the Federal Government has adopted and remains committed to the 48-hour clearance target with the objective of decongesting the ports, bringing down costs, and ultimately accelerating the facilitation of the nation’s international trade. The Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] recently introduced the issuance of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report [PAAR] without which an importer cannot clear his goods. PAAR replaced the Risk Assessment Report [RAR] which was introduced by the former service providers who administered Destination Inspection [DI] regime. Depending on the type of goods some forwarders say PAAR can be issued in a day if the documentation does not have problem. But others say it can take weeks. [This Day 25/05/14]

Trade Facilitation - Customs, Shippers’ Council Partner for Single Window As part of efforts to further ensure trade facilitation and faster clearance of goods the Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council [NSC] are to work in partnership for the establishment of a Single Window - an all-inclusive electronic trade platform for stakeholders. The move will eliminate a lot of bureaucracy, which means multiplicity of documents, multiplicity of desk and the procedures will be simplified. [Vanguard 29/05/14]

Government To Float National Shipping Carrier The Nigerian Federal Government has reiterated its readiness to float a new national shipping carrier for the country. The Nigerian National Shipping Line Limited [NNSL], was liquidated in 1995 following its poor management and inability to remain afloat. Since then several attempts to float another national shipping carrier have not seen the light of the day. However the federal government has concluded plans to partner the private sector to float a new national shipping carrier. President Goodluck Jonathan has tasked NIMASA to ensure that the national carrier is brought back during his administration by involving a Public Private Partnership [PPP] initiative in order to avoid the pitfalls that led to the liquidation of NNSL over a decade ago. [This Day 16/05/14]

Maritime Development Conference A national workshop on PPP strategy for infrastructural development and modernization in the Nigerian maritime sector has been held organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA] in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulation Commission [ICRC]. [This Day 16/05/14]

Freight Forwarders Tasked On Documentation Procedure - PARR As the bottleneck on the issuance of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report [PAAR] begins to ease at the nation’s ports, freight forwarders have been encouraged to be trained on the necessary procedures. [This Day 16/05/14]

You can access information about PARR and other Nigerian regulations on the DELMAS website: http://www.delmas.com/ static/eCommerce/Attachments/Nigeria.pdf

EASTERN AFRICA

EAC / COMESA EA Trade Barriers Set To End With Single Customs Territory On July 1st Full implementation of Single Custom Territory [SCT], aimed at eradicating trade barriers in East Africa, begins on July 1. The SCT initiatives are under the trilateral arrangement including Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda for the central corridor and Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda for the northern corridor that was piloted from January this year. Once implemented, it is expected to eradicate trade barriers by adopting a central model of clearance of goods, whereby taxes and assessments will be done only at the first point of entry and, thus, ensure faster clearing of goods as well as reduction in the cost of doing business. SCT Initiative - Goods will be declared once at the country of destination before reaching the first entry point - Cuts operational costs and improves significantly the business climate in the region - Roadblocks will be eliminated by the adoption of electronic cargo tracking systems - Positive impact already recorded since pilot project in January: - 4-days instead of 18 to truck from the Kenyan main port of Mombasa to Kampala. - 3-days instead of 21 to truck from Mombasa to Kigali, Rwanda. - As a result, in the Northern corridor, Ugandaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s import volumes has increased by 30% with transport cost lowered by almost 50%. - To be a single weighing bridge from Dar es Salaam to Kabanga, Rusumo and Mutukula, an initiative that implies more cargo clearance at the Dar port. - Customs business systems and processes currently being interfaced and harmonised for smooth take-off of the SCT SCT is one of the key regional integration priority policy interventions adopted by both the Council and the Summit to consolidate the EAC Customs Union. [Tanzania Revenue Authority 28/05/14]

Ethiopia-Sudan Trade Forum Held A 3-day bilateral trade forum between Ethiopia and Sudan was held in Addis Ababa with a memorandum of understanding [MoU] concluded between the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and the Sudanese Investors Federation which aims to further boost economic, trade and investment cooperation between the 2-countries. [Sudan Tribune 27/05/14]

EU Gives East Africa US$3 Million For Shipping Security The European Union is scaling up its financial support by providing US$3 million to the EAC to fight maritime crime in the Indian Ocean. The deal signed in Arusha aims to improve maritime security and create a favourable environment for economic development: fighting piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing and maritime pollution which can increase the cost of doing business in the EAC region. The Maritime Security [MASE] Programme is part of a â&#x201A;Ź37.5 million package to 4-regional organisations of Eastern and Southern Africa. They include the East African Community [EAC], the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA], the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development [IGAD], and the Indian Ocean Commission [IOC]. [EA Business Week 15/05/14]

EASTERN AFRICA

PORTS Botswana–Mozambique Techobanine Port/Rail Feasibility Study A feasibility study into the proposed Ponto Techobanine deepsea port, in Mozambique, and a 1,100 km heavy-haul railway line linking the port to Botswana’s burgeoning coal-producing eastern region is expected to start this year, after the company developing the project completed its prefeasibility study. The railway is expected to start at a new dry port to be established near Selebi Phikwe, in eastern Botswana, and pass through Zimbabwe. A prefeasibility study into the private-sectordriven project was completed earlier this year and paves the way for the full feasibility study. The project’s consulting firm, Bergstan Africa, noted the feasibility study could take 6-9 months to be followed by a detailed design phase. It is difficult to say when construction will start, as the 3-governments and the Botswana-based Transwana Group Holdings, appointed as the private developer, failed to finalise funding issues earlier this year, as had been expected. It is estimated the project could cost about US$1.6-billion. It could take 7-years to complete the entire project, which includes the construction of coal-handling facilities in Selibe Phikwe. The new line will also connect Botswana’s coalfields to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] through Kazungula. The Ponto Techobanine railway line will improve Botswana coal’s access to Asian countries, which are the major potential market for Botswana. The country is optimistic that it can produce up to 90-million tons of seaborne thermal coal a year, mainly for export to countries like India and China. [Mining Weekly 30/05/14]

Mozambique Mozambique’s Beira Port To Open New Fertiliser Terminal Work to build a new fertiliser terminal at the port of Beira, in Mozambique’s Sofala province, with capacity to process 8,000 tons of fertiliser every day, is due to begin soon. According to Cornelder de Moçambique the building project had been awarded but works had been delayed due to ground studies underway following sea water flooding. With an estimated cost of US$35 million, the new terminal will respond to increasing fertiliser traffic at the port, which currently only has a warehouse with capacity to store 2,000 tons of goods. In 1998 the port of Beira handled up to 50,000 tons of goods per year but now handles 600,000 tons. It is estimated that the African region that the port serves – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] – may require capacity of between 1.2 million and 1.5 million tons per year. Cornelder de Moçambique is a partnership between state company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique and Cornelder Holdings, based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which has operated the container and general cargo at the port of Beira since October 1998. [Macauhub 26/05/14]

Maputo Port Dredging The depth of the access channel of the port of Maputo will increase from 11 to 14m, once dredging begins at the beginning of July, which will allow the facility to receive larger draught ships weighing up to 80,000 tons. Maputo will become more competitive in relation to other ports in the region as the ships will be able to establish routes between Maputo and large cargo hubs. [Macauhub 19/05/14]

EASTERN AFRICA

PORTS Tanzania Belgium Firm Enters Into Port, Railway Deal With Dar The Belgium Investment Company for Developing Countries [BIO] has entered into a partnership with Tanzania to invest in port and railway projects. A delegation from the Tanzania Ports Authority [TPA], the Ambassador to Belgium, Luxemburg and Mission to the European Union [EU], Dr Diodorus Kamala, and the CEO for BIO, Luik Zonneveld are in Belgium for a series of meetings related to this development partnership. The group would also visit Europe’s major food ports with the view to explore the possibilities of exporting perishable goods by maritime transport to the European markets. The North Sea food port has already agreed to share lessons about the food port concept and to jointly assess ways for future cooperation between Zeebrugge and ports in Tanzania. A government delegation will this month make a “strategic visit” to Belgium. The Belgium Investment Company for Developing Countries [BIO], ALSTOM, CMI, Port of Zeebrugge, AWEX and BEMOBEX SNCB Holdings have co-organised the visit. Officials will meet the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency [AWEX] and other groups in the transport and logistics mainly involved in the railway industry [BEMOBEX, ALSOM and CMI] as well as European Financing Partners. A Tanzania-Belgium transport logistics stakeholders’ Forum would also bring together railway industry stakeholders who deal with various aspects of the rail transport sector. [Daily News 23/05/14]

Dar Es Salaam Turns To World Bank For Port Expansion The Tanzanian government intends to get a soft loan from the World Bank for the planned expansion of Dar es Salaam port. The new focus on the World Bank follows the cancellation of the contentious US$523 million [800bn/-] project involving the construction of berths #13 and #14. Transport Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe told the National Assembly that the project was cancelled after learning that its costs were unrealistic and questionable. The bank through the International Bank For Reconstruction And Development [IBRD] in collaboration with the Department For International Development [DFID] and Trade Mark East Africa [TMEA] have agreed to extend to Tanzania a soft loan by 65% and 35% grant for the construction of berths #13 and #14 and renovation of berths number #1 and #7 at the Dar es Salaam port. The Tanzania Ports Authority [TPA] has prepared draft tender documents for the project implementation and that the documents have been posted to the bank for issuance of permit. The project is expected to take off in the next financial year [2014/15]. Earlier estimates by Chinese firms - China Communications Construction Company Ltd [CCCC] And China Harbour Engineering Company [CHEC] which put the cost at 837bn/- were unreasonably high. TPA will follow legal procedures in terminating the contract entered with the 2-Chinese firms and the matter was now in the office of the attorney general for legal advice. [Daily News 26/05/14]

Ports Authority Improves Performance Tanzania Ports Authority [TPA] Big Results Now [BRN] progress report covering the period of July 2013 to March this year shows tremendous performance improvement by the authority compared to the similar period last year. Notably, performance of motor vehicle clearance in March this year was an average of 604 units which exceeded set target by 100.7%. One reason for the improvement is the February resolution to have 24hr port operation for all government and private actors at the port. This along with the ‘Single Window Port Community System’ at the port, which synchronises all paper-related processes, started on April 25th. The amount of cargo handled at the port was 10.95 million tonnes in the period, an 84.2% achievement of the 13 million tonnes target that was set. The actual ship turn-round time for the month of March 2014 was 6.1 days/ship, an achievement of 82.0% against the targeted 5 days/ship. The high ship turn-round time has been contributed by the long stay of tankers and TPA container ships. The import dwell time for March 2014 was 10- days per container compared to a target of 7-days per container resulting from poor railway services and dependency on road transport. Meanwhile the Terminal Operation System has been upgraded to resolve operational issues which were previously identified as problematic and new Inland Container Depots [ICDs] have started using the system. Several application systems are also in place to enhance efficiency of port operations including: The Harbour View System, Cargo Operations System, Container Operations System, Motor Vehicle Operations System, Export Receiving and Loading Operations System, Gate Operations System along with a Billing System. A final report is being prepared for discussion at a stakeholders’ meeting before implementation later this year. [Guardian 13/05/14]

SOUTHERN AFRICA

SADC South Africa To Launch National Export Strategy According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) South Africa’s export culture remains weak. During a recent manufacturing Indaba held in Gauteng the department noted it is particularly keen to foster greater diversification and is, thus, focusing not only on volumes, but also the quality of such exports. It is particularly keen on a greater integration of South Africanmade value-added inputs into global supply chains. The DTI is also exploring various methods embedded in the Industrial Policy Action Plan [Ipap] and key among those is South Africa’s participation in regional integration with a particular focus on global value chains, as well as what can be achieved in terms of other cross-border measures. The DTI has also undertaken a study to identify new high-growth markets in Africa, Asia and South America, from which South Africa’s exports could benefit. The DTI is promoting the National Exporter Development Programme, which aims to enhance the export culture by retaining existing exports, attracting new entrants, expanding the number of current roleplayers and assisting companies in exploring markets to which they are not accustomed. The National Development Plan, 7 envisions increased exports of 6% by 2030 and advocates for increased exports from nonmineral manufactures and services. She added that, in addition to the Ipap, the DTI had considered several measures aimed at further industrialising the economy, including a National Export Strategy, which will be launched during the course of the year. [Engineering News 06/06/14]

Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique Make Headway In Integration Efforts Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique are inching closer to realising the core of the increased intra-regional trade by harmonising their transport network amongst the 3-countries and beyond. In a latest move to enhance the regional integration being pursued in Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA], Southern African Development Community [SADC] and the East African Community [EAC] and beyond, Malawi and Zambia have taken up the first step with the former granting the latter access to its railway facility to link to the Nacala corridor. Malawi has granted Zambia Railways Limited [ZRL] the right to use locomotives and rolling stock on its network and is expected to operate on the Chipata-Nacala railway through Mchinji, Lilongwe, Salima, Balaka, and Liwonde to Nayuchi. The Central East African Railways [CEAR] Limited which runs the Malawi Railways network has noted that the operationalization of the ChipataNacala railway would increase volumes of trade between Zambia and Malawi. The line offers a shorter and economical route to the port of Nacala for Zambia’s imports and exports. The Zambia Railways is expected to work closely on this corridor with CEAR and the Nacala Development Corridor. The corridor is owned by Mozambique Ports and Railways Company and Sociedade de Desenvilvimento do corridors do Nacala [SCDN]. SADC is making headways in its regional integration through a US$600 million masterplan, which is expected to steer growth among member states. The Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan Vision 2027 is a 15-year blueprint that will guide the implementation of cross-border infrastructure projects. This is in accordance with the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan [RIDMP] that was adopted by SADC Heads of State and Government at their 32nd SADC Ordinary Summit held in August 2012 in Maputo, Mozambique. The RIDMP is being implemented over three 5-year intervals – short term [2012-2017], medium term [2017-2022] and long term [2022-2027]. So far, priority infrastructure projects at a cost of about US$500 billion have been identified and the Maputo Investor Conference is part of the marketing strategy to mobilise resources for their implementation. [Southern Times 19/05/14]

RESOURCES CMA CGM / DELMAS produce a monthly report covering all landlocked trade corridors in Africa. To view back issues of the ‘CTBL-Watch [issued every 21st of the month] go to: http://www.delmas.com/news/delmas-ctbl-watch

SOUTHERN AFRICA

PORTS Namibia Walvis Bay - Namport A Strategic Economic Asset President Hifikepunye Pohamba attended the groundbreaking of the Namport Container Terminal on 9th May in Walvis Bay. The expansion of the container terminal is to include 40-ha of new land to be used for the construction of a modern container terminal, adding 600m of quay length to the existing 1,500m. The project will add 650,000 TEU p.a capacity to the existing 350,000 TEU. The N$3 billion port expansion project is part of a long-term goal to improve the country’s infrastructure and promote intra-regional trade. Chinese construction company China Harbour and Engineering Company [CHEC], who were awarded the tender last year, have already started work on the mega-project, including the construction of an underwater containment wall for the future container terminal. The work involves giant geo-tubes to be filled with sand which will form the container terminal’s underwater outer boundary. Once all is in place, massive dredging work will commence that will see mud and other sediments from the ocean floor in the port of Walvis Bay pumped into the containment area, to allow for an island to rise from the seabed. The outer barrier of this man-made island will then be covered by piles of rock and stone to form a protective breakwater for the container island. The container terminal is expected to be completed by 2017. Funding for the project is provided by the African Development Bank Group [AfDB], while the Namibian government is financing the expansion of the port. Statistics indicate that country’s such as Angola, Zimbabwe and DRC showed an increase in trade volumes, while being served by the port of Walvis Bay and the Walvis Bay Corridor compared to those served by other ports. This is a clear indication that Namport plays a pivotal role. Imports from South America, especially Brazil into the SADC region via the Port of Walvis Bay have also increased. A recently signed bilateral agreement between Namibia and Botswana for the construction of a railway that would link the 2-countries will also significantly contribute and strengthen Namibia’s position in terms of trade. [New Era 14/05/14]

SOUTHERN AFRICA

PORTS Lüderitz Port To Be Upgraded The Namibia Ports Authority [Namport] plans a massive upgrade of Lüderitz Port to meet increasing cargo from exploration and mining activities. Lüderitz Port was used by the fishing industry, but it has seen increasing activity from the mining sector since 2004. Strategic focus is to cater for the needs of the fishing industry, offshore diamond mining, offshore oil exploration and the general mining sector, together with its supporting industries and services. The port in its current state is too shallow to accommodate large vessels servicing these sectors. The port is increasingly important for the agricultural sector, with the growing potential of grapes exported from Aussenkehr in southern Namibia and the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. [New Era 16/05/14]

Walvis Bay Project Fails to Take Off National Railways of Zimbabwe subsidiary, Road Motor Services, noted the construction of the Walvis Bay dry port in Namibia has stalled over finances. Construction was to resume in November 2013 when the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA] promised to provide US$1.4 million for the project. Yet no funds have been delivered to date. In September 2009, the Government of Namibia granted Zimbabwe 19,000m2 to construct its own dry port to boost trade. Construction is to be done in 2-phases over 5-months. The first phase involving civil works which includes construction of the drive-in weighbridge, storage shades, palisade fencing as well as installation of electric catwalks. Phase 2 involves construction of administration blocks. Trade for Zimbabwe via Walvis Bay has increased in the past few years and a large percentage of commodities are transported along this corridor. Zimbabwe’s trade volumes through the Port of Walvis Bay have grown significantly to more than 2,500 tonnes per month. [Herald 05/06/14]

Fitch Upgrades NamPort to ‘A+ Fitch Ratings has upgraded Namibian Ports Authority’s [NamPort] National Long-Term rating to A+ from A- and National ShortTerm rating to F1 from F2. The upgrade reflects the strengthening of links between NamPort and its sole shareholder, the Namibian government. The entity is viewed as a strategic asset for the Namibian economy - operating the country’s 2-ports at Walvis Bay and Luderitz. Fitch believes NamPort is likely to play a critical role in infrastructure development given its planned port expansion project of NAD3.9bn [US$0.37bn] in the next 3-years. [Fitch 29/05/14]

South Africa The First Integrated Maritime Port Of Entry Control Centre Opens Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor opened the new Cape Town maritime Port of Entry Control Centre, recently established at Cowrie Place, Cape Town harbour. It is widely expected that this project will improve migration control and border management. As opposed to the current coordinating system at maritime ports, this integrated model brings together members of staff from various departments, functions and infrastructure. The integrated centre, which is the first of its kind in South Africa, is likely to serve as a precedent for many more ports of entry in the maritime, air and land border environment in the country. About 90 staff members from various government departments and agencies are expected to be located in the centre. For 2012/2013 statistics show that 870,851 containers and 729,736 tons of dry bulk moved through the Cape Town port. [Cape Business News 02/06/14]

Additional Port System Operator Standards In addition to the terminal operator performance standards [TOPS] established by the Transnet National Ports Authority [TNPA] late last year the authority will also establish marine operator performance standards [MOPS], rail operator performance standards [ROPS] and haulier operator performance standards [HOPS]. Each of South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ports now have a performance standard to work from across the entire supply chain. It will be rolled out across all the main corridors. Durban Port will go live in August with its operational centre, which would control the marine, terminal, road and rail systems associated with the port. This would enable the TNPA to record delays in real time and publish the portâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance figures daily. This system would also link Durban with the ports of Saldanha Bay, Richards Bay and East London to ensure that ship delays could effectively be communicated to a shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next port of call. [Engineering News 26/05/14]