SENEGAL
Senegal Charts a Bold Course for Its Blue Economy
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is strongly backing the development of Senegal’s blue economy, using the opening of Dakar's Forum on Sustainable Development of Maritime Transport and Logistics on 13 July to lay out an ambitious roadmap for the sector.
With 750 kilometers of coastline and an extensive river network, Senegal is sitting on assets it has only begun to tap. Port activity in Dakar alone generated close to 700 billion CFA francs between 2022 and 2024, nearly 4% of GDP, while supporting 170,000 jobs. The President wants to multiply that impact many times over.
The plan centers on the new deep-water port of Ndayane, built to welcome the world's largest container ships, alongside the Jaambar project to modernize and expand the Autonomous Port of Dakar and the new Bargny-Sendou terminal for bulk and mineral cargo. Fishing ports are also getting a modernization push, recognizing that artisanal fisheries remain central to any credible maritime policy.
Just as important is what happens beyond the quayside. New logistics corridors, including a planned revival of rail activity from Tambacounda paired with a dry-port project, aim to connect inland and island communities to these coastal hubs, while digitalization is set to bring more reliability and cost savings across the supply chain. A dedicated maritime training school, envisioned as the foundation of a future maritime university, will build the skilled workforce required to support this growth.
Backed by the Senegal 2050 Transformation Agenda and new financing tools like blue bonds, Senegal is positioning itself as West Africa's next great maritime and logistics hub.
As Senegal's ports and corridors scale up, smooth compliance becomes essential to capturing the opportunity. Our ECTN certificate services for Senegal help ensure your cargo moves through customs without delay, keeping you ready to benefit from the country's expanding maritime ambitions.
Sources: presidence.sn | capmad.com
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GABON
Gabon's Railway Renaissance: $356 Million to Unlock Regional Trade
Gabon is putting real money behind its logistics ambitions. The government has secured a €312 million ($356 million) financing package, backed by Proparco, the International Finance Corporation, and national rail operator SETRAG, to fund the third phase of the Transgabonais Railway Modernization and Safety Program.
The investment targets the 648-kilometer line linking the Atlantic port of Owendo with Franceville in the east, a corridor that has carried Gabon's mining and timber exports since 1978. Contractors have already reinforced 457 kilometers of track with concrete sleepers and laid new heavy-duty rail along 186 kilometers, and this new funding will push the upgrade further, restoring the line's full operating capacity and enabling up to eight train movements a day in each direction.
The ambition is bold: authorities want to more than double annual freight volumes, from roughly 9 million tonnes today to 21 million tonnes by 2029. That would be transformative for a railway that already generates close to 20% of national GDP and remains the only reliable transport link for many remote communities.
This push mirrors a wider trend across Africa, where logistics leaders are calling for more integrated, digital and reliable corridors to keep pace with booming trade volumes. A modernized Transgabonais does more than move ore and timber faster. It strengthens Gabon's position as a dependable link in African and global supply chains, giving shippers greater confidence when moving goods in and out of the country.
As Gabon's rail network becomes faster and more reliable, staying compliant with export requirements matters more than ever. Our ECTN certificate services for Gabon ensure your shipments clear customs smoothly, so you can make the most of the country's improving infrastructure without unnecessary delays.
Sources: financialafrik.com | ecofinagency.com
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TOGO
Togo's Port of Lomé: Built for the China-Africa Trade Surge
China's trade with Africa is booming, and Togo's port of Lomé has a direct stake in that story. Two-way trade between China and Africa reached $203.5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 24% year-on-year, with Chinese exports to the continent climbing 26.2%. The surge follows an expanded zero-tariff policy launched on 1 May 2026, covering products from 53 African countries, including Togo.
Lomé is well placed to capture this growth because of who runs its container terminal. The Lomé Container Terminal is a joint venture between China Merchants Port Holdings and MSC's Terminal Investment Limited, giving one of China's largest port operators a direct hand in the facility's growth. Under a €120 million investment plan through 2027, the terminal has deepened its access channel to 18.6 metres and widened its turning circle to 550 metres, now handling fully loaded vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs. Capacity is set to climb from 2 million to 2.5 million TEUs as a result.
That mix of Chinese ownership and deep-water infrastructure puts Lomé in a strong position as shipping lines concentrate their biggest vessels at a handful of capable African hubs. As West Africa's largest port and a key trans-shipment gateway for landlocked Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, Lomé stands to see more direct calls and stronger connectivity as Chinese trade keeps climbing.
Growth on this scale also raises the stakes for efficient port operations. Tighter competition for vessel slots and rising cargo volumes mean smooth customs processes matter more than ever for anyone moving goods through Togo.
As Lomé cements its role as a preferred stop for Chinese trade flows, having your paperwork ready is essential. Our ECTN certificate services for Togo help your shipments clear customs quickly and reliably, so you can make the most of Lomé's growing global connections.
Sources: aa.com | capmad.com
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CONGO
From Diesel to Electric: Congo's Terminal's Mole Est Transformation
The Republic of Congo is going electric at sea. Congo Terminal, a subsidiary of AGL, is building Môle Est at the port of Pointe-Noire, set to become the country's first port project run entirely on electric cargo-handling equipment.
Once operational, Môle Est will run on five electric ship-to-shore cranes, 15 electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and 30 electric terminal tractors, all backed by real-time energy management systems. Gone will be the noise, emissions and upkeep of traditional combustion-engine equipment, replaced by faster, quieter & cleaner operations.
The numbers behind the project are just as impressive as the technology. The new terminal features a 750-metre quay with 17 metres of water depth, a 26-hectare storage yard, and two berths able to accommodate vessels up to 400 metres long. Once complete, it will lift Pointe-Noire's container-handling capacity to 2.5 million TEU and create roughly 900 direct and indirect jobs.
As Anthony Samzun, Managing Director of Congo Terminal, explains the project channels AGL's global port expertise into infrastructure that meets the latest standards while optimizing environmental performance. Beyond Pointe-Noire itself, Môle Est positions the Republic of Congo as a pioneer of the port energy transition in Central Africa, strengthening supply chains for the landlocked countries that depend on this gateway to reach global markets.
The project forms part of AGL's broader €1 billion investment programme spanning 2009 to 2027, a long-term commitment to modernizing Central Africa's maritime infrastructure. As Pointe-Noire scales up its capacity and green credentials, it is set to become an even more attractive hub for regional trade.
As cargo traffic through Pointe-Noire is poised for growth, ensuring that your paperwork is in order matters more than ever. Our ECTN certificate services for the Republic of Congo help your shipments clear customs smoothly, so you can make the most of this cleaner, higher-capacity gateway.
Sources: financialafrik.com | portsafrica.com | portnews.ru
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