Port Authority of Cotonou
The Port Authority of Cotonou (PAC) is a significant public organization established on December 31, 1964. It oversees the maintenance and operation of the Port of Cotonou, playing a crucial role in Benin’s economy and serving as a vital hub for the sub-regional economy, particularly for territories like the Sahel or countries such as Nigeria. Over its more than fifty-year history, the Port of Cotonou has been instrumental in facilitating import-export activities in the region, earning recognition as a certified eco-citizen platform with ISO certifications for environmental management, quality, and occupational health and safety. To further enhance its operations, the Port Authority entered into a partnership with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International in 2018, focusing on modernization and skills transfer. Currently employing over 600 individuals, the Port Authority boasts a diverse team with expertise in various sectors, including IT. With an ambitious plan to implement twelve major infrastructural projects by 2026, funded at over 450 billion CFA francs, the Port of Cotonou aims to become a modern, secure logistics platform providing high-quality services.
Kristof Van den Branden, Chief Commercial Officer at Port Autonome de Cotonou
Kristof is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience, who excels as a team player and has a track record of effectively managing and motivating teams. His adeptness in stakeholder management ranging from local communities to high-level governmental interactions is remarkable. Notably, he has held leadership positions such as President of the Belgian Business Club in Lagos/Nigeria (2016-2017) and currently serves as President of Eurocham in Cotonou/Benin since 2023. He has been the CCO for the Port Authority since 2020.
- In a totally globalized economy, digital transformation is a must for any organization, could you briefly describe how you see the current situation of the port sector in Africa?
The port sector in Africa is moving. Significant reforms in digital transformation have been undertaken by port authorities across the continent in recent years. It has to be said, most of them have been accelerated by the recent health crisis. Today, we are witnessing the progress, the digital transformation of African port platforms is underway. And this is accompanied by the development of the hinterland, which facilitates the transit of goods; the modernization of logistics, which provides certain African ports with amenities that meet international standards; and also training of staff at various levels. These different elements show the progress obtained on several scales in the operational management of certain ports on the continent. In my opinion, they are a sign of increased vitality in the sector.
- From your point of view, what are the main challenges African ports are facing?
African ports are facing three fundamental challenges: the logistics challenge, the digital transformation challenge and the risk management challenge. The question of logistics is essential to develop the competitiveness of a Port. A good logistics platform reassures partners and establishes a climate of trust in business. It also promotes the decongestion of ports and reduces the transit time of goods. Some ports in North and South Africa have more or less taken up this challenge. The other ports are keeping pace by equipping themselves with appropriate equipment that meets international standards. However, the challenge remains to be met.
Digital transformation is a vital challenge. In a context of worldwide interconnection, meeting the requirements of digital transformation is important. The process has started on the continent, but there is still a way to go. The establishment of single window, the dematerialization of procedures… these are steps taken or to be taken for certain ports on the continent. The last essential challenge, for me, is that linked to risk management. Safety and security are a major issue for the attractiveness of African maritime routes. They are a necessary passage for better influence of the continent’s port destinations.
- The Port of Cotonou has made a strong commitment to digitalisation in recent years, what is the role that software providers play in achieving this goal?
Since 2009, the political will in Benin has been manifested. It led to the establishment of the port’s Single Window in 2011. This immediately added value; the transit time for goods at the port of Cotonou has become one of the shortest in the West African sub-region.
This digitalization accelerated in 2018, encouraged by President Talon’s Government Action Program containing the dematerialization of all administrative procedures in the country and the concession of management of the port of Cotonou to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International. All this materialized at the port platform level through the implementation of the Port Information System project which aims firstly to improve and optimize port processes and then to set up a port information system which brings together all the stakeholders in the port ecosystem.
The role of software providers is essentially that of development, support and advice. They support the port authority by providing quality software products that meet their needs and those of the port community. Besides, they also have an advisory role by proposing better solutions. They are specialists who have solutions that have proven themselves in other ports and of which we are not necessarily aware. They can then be a force for proposals.
- What advice would you give to any African port that wants to start its digitalisation process?
The desire to begin a digitalization process is already an important step. It assumes that port authorities have grasped the challenges of digital transformation in the era of globalization. That said, desire alone is not enough; a clear vision must be defined and supported by real political will. It is an essential prerequisite, which allows political support for the initiatives of the port authorities. The vision of digital transformation must be understood and adopted by all stakeholders, namely port stakeholders, social partners and the State.
Once this has been acquired, for me, an audit of the information system in place is imperative to identify the actors, the systems in place and other resources. Then the creation as soon as possible of a framework for permanent exchange between the actors of the digitalization chain on the approach to the process, the conditions of its implementation and its evolution is necessary. It promotes better integration.
Another important point would be to pool all the digitalization initiatives undertaken in the port ecosystem and operate as a single entity.
And such a process is implemented with a good training strategy to allow staff to immediately take ownership of these changes.
We must also think about the safety of software installations and even logistics so as not to be surprised by disappointments.
- Where do you think the sector is heading to and what are the main actions that ports should adopt to suit the changes that are coming?
In my opinion, digitalization will remain a hot topic with the advent of artificial intelligence; However, the sector will move towards more ecological responsibility.
The changes to come will therefore be environmental. The blue economy is taking an increasingly important place in the port ecosystem. And whoever talks about the blue economy, talks about sustainable management of all maritime resources, also talks about green energy. We will have to start making an energy transition in maritime transport. Some actors have already started the process. We too at the Port of Cotonou are hard at work and have obtained ISO certification for our environment and quality policy. And digitalizing processes actively participates into achieving these sustainability goals.
ressources maritimes, parle aussi d’énergie verte. Nous devrons commencer à faire une transition énergétique dans le transport maritime. Certains acteurs ont déjà entamé le processus. Au Port de Cotonou, nous aussi, nous travaillons d’arrache-pied et avons obtenu la certification ISO pour notre politique Environnement et Qualité. Et la numérisation des processus participe activement à la réalisation de ces objectifs de durabilité.
