The Port Management Association of West and Central Africa’s (PMAWCA) 18th Managing Director’s Roundtable and 43rd Annual Conference were officially declared open today by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The president, represented by Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy, urged African nations to work together for the benefit of the continent since the maritime industry is essential to both the facilitation of trade and the continent’s overall integration for equitable development.
News About Nigeria reports that Oyetola stated that the administration is providing the Nigerian Ports Authority with all the support it needs to expedite the operationalization of the Port Community System, which is a prelude to the National Single Window because it is a government that believes information technology must be integrated into public management to promote transparency and streamline business processes.
He stated, “We are convinced that the only way to go if we plan to remain competitive in the global maritime industry is full automation.”
Before the president’s address, the minister reaffirmed on the sidelines the necessity of a thorough restoration and reconstruction of the current ports as needed.
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) sponsored the founding of the PMAWCA in October 1972.
It includes ports in Angola, Mauritania, and West Africa. It accounts for a roughly 12,000 km shoreline and ports that handle over 300 million tonnes of the subregion’s marine import/export activity (not including crude oil).
The association had 40 members as of 2018, up from 9 in 1972.
On March 21–24, 2023, the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, or PMAWCA, met in Lomé, Togo.
The purpose of the conference was to strengthen regional cooperation in the areas of competitiveness and port management.
