The trend of overhauling and improving key national infrastructure through lengthy concessions to private companies is continuing apace in Africa, with Angola’s Luanda Port the latest to benefit from such a deal.
Executives from APM Terminals and Gestao de Fundos, an Angolan-based company have signed a 20-year concession agreement with the government of Angola to operate the country’s main container port.
The news comes soon after a similar 25-year concession to run the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, branded as the Bahrain Gateway, was approved by Bahrain’s government earlier this year, also with Dutch heavyweight APM.
A joint venture named Sogester, based in Luanda, Angola, will be the local company of record, operating the container terminal. Angola is a large producer of oil and has a fast growing economy with double-digit GDP growth expected to continue in the years ahead.
Major infrastructure investment is underway in the oil/gas and related industries and there is continued development of hinterland road and rail links to further stimulate economic development and international trade.
“We are pleased with the Luanda Container Terminal agreement and we commend the Angolan Ministry of Transport and the Port of Luanda for their professionalism and the transparency of the process,” stated Kim Fejfer, CEO of APM Terminals International. “Our vision is to blend APM Terminals global expertise with our local knowledge developed through our activities in Africa to offer our customers a world-class port,” he added.
“We are excited about the Luanda concession and the high growth market it offers our customers. This new facility increases APM Terminals African presence and complements our existing facilities in Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana,” explained South African based Simon Pitout, head of APM Terminals Africa Region.
“We look forward to continuing the positive spirit of cooperation with the Angolan authorities to develop Luanda Container Terminal into a world-class facility and a leading container terminal in the region. Sogester plans to make substantial investments and improvements to the container yard, quayside and terminal handling equipment,” added Pitout.
“Sogester has an ongoing commitment to the development of our local staff, and we will focus on the continued training and development of our professionals to achieve world-class standards,” concluded Felix Neto, chairman of Sogester.
Follow us on
