Crans Montana: Digitization and Big Data as Key Levers to Enhance the Efficiency of African Ports
Participants in a seminar held yesterday in Casablanca, as part of the Crans Montana Forum 2025, confirmed that digitization and big data are essential levers to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of African ports.
This event provided an opportunity for international experts and officials to highlight the competition in the maritime transport and container shipping sector, as well as to discuss ways to improve port efficiency across the African continent, along with the challenges facing this sector.
They particularly emphasized the pivotal role played by Moroccan ports on the international stage, especially in Africa.
On this occasion, Madi Khabachia, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime and Air Transport in the Comoros, stated that digitizing port systems will significantly enhance their effectiveness, while also allowing for tracking the movement of shipments. He noted that digitization also provides comprehensive data on containers and goods, which helps in effectively managing freight.
Khabachia expressed his admiration for the significant developments and transformations that Moroccan ports have undergone in recent years, particularly the port of Dakhla.
For his part, former Prime Minister of Mali, Cheick Modibo Diarra, highlighted the challenges that may accompany the digitization of ports, especially regarding the infrastructure that needs to be provided to ensure the success of this transformation. He pointed out that there are disparities in infrastructure across the continent, which necessitates coordinated efforts to successfully implement these initiatives.
Diarra also praised the royal initiative aimed at enhancing access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, urging all relevant stakeholders to mobilize the necessary resources and collaborate to bring it to fruition.
It is worth noting that the Crans Montana Forum 2025 commenced yesterday in Casablanca under the slogan, “International Trade for Africa Requires Marine Safety and Security of Ports and Navigation Routes.”
This event, organized over two days, is the first in a series of high-level forums scheduled to take place in Morocco as part of the royal initiative to improve access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean.
