Priorities for accelerating Africa’s sustainable transport and logistics connectivity were the focus of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Transport Forum 2024, which was supported by a USD210,000 grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and held in Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire on 18-20 September.
Nearly 400 participants joined the forum, including 14 ministers and senior representatives from International Financial Institutions, transport associations, and the broader private sector. During series of a high-level panels, they discussed the progress of efforts to expand, modernize, and link transport systems to meet demand as Africa’s economies and population rapidly grow.
H.E. Mr. Jean Jacques Bouya, Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Development, Regional Amenities and Public Works, spotlighted Development Corridor 13, which will better connect key cities in the Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Chad, as well as a road-rail bridge between the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
H.E. Mr. Dieudonné Dukundane, Burundi’s Minister of Infrastructure, emphasized the potential to leverage railways as regional economic integration in Africa opens new economic opportunities. Other government officials and experts called for a multi-modal approach to transport to maximize the benefits of improving road, rail, waterway, and aviation networks.
Participants further underscored the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change across the transport sector as Africa’s economies become more integrated.
Mr. Solomon Quaynor, AfDB Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation, highlighted the significance of work to enhance regional connectivity and climate-resilient infrastructure under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).
“PIDA’s cross-border infrastructure projects impact key sectors such as energy, transport, and information and communications technology, and are pivotal for sustainable development in Africa,” Vice President Quaynor noted.
Mr. Frederic Wiltmann, Program Head at MCDF, described the role resilient infrastructure can play in driving inclusive growth.
“Connectivity through infrastructure must drive growth and contribute to poverty reduction, but that means infrastructure must be affordable, resilient, and sustainable,” said Mr. Wiltmann.
Participants shared insights on advancing sustainable transport and logistics connectivity through asset management, infrastructure maintenance, and financial mechanisms that can support transport systems at national and subnational levels.
They went on to stress the value of robust partnerships for achieving sustainable transport breakthroughs. This includes capitalizing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a mechanism to strengthen trade and infrastructure investment across the continent.
Participants also pointed to harmonized policies, innovative technologies, and resilient infrastructure systems as further keys to boosting Africa’s sustainable and inclusive transport services prospects.
Contact
David Hendrickson
Senior Communications Officer
Mobile: +86 185 0114 6758
david.hendrickson@themcdf.org
