DP World, a world leader in global supply chain solutions, and CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor have entered a long-term partnership to multiply the capacity of the Port of Berbera and improve surrounding logistics facilities to create a regional trading hub.
According to the two institutions, this will provide a vital economic boost to Somaliland and support growth in the broader Horn of Africa region.
“The expansion of the Port of Berbera will help drive much-needed development for some of the most vulnerable in Somaliland and support the continuing growth of Ethiopia, which will have a positive knock-on effect on the whole region,” the two companies said in a statement.
Richard Charlton, the Investment Director, CDC Group, said that the ongoing upgrades to trade infrastructure in the Berbera corridor are expected to significantly enhance economic opportunities for businesses in Somaliland, as well as improve the quality of life for Somalilanders by increasing availability and reducing the cost of vital imported goods.
“It is our hope that CDC’s investment will help demonstrate investability and serve as a catalyst for further private sector FDI in the (Horn of Africa) region.
This will foster economic growth in Somaliland and the wider Berbera corridor, creating economic opportunities for local population,” said Charlton.
The investment is part of a wider US$1.7 billion partnership to accelerate Africa’s trade potential and improve the economic prospects of millions of people, starting in the ports of Berbera, Dakar and Sokhna. CDC is committing $700 million and DP World $1 billion.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “DP World views Africa as a long-term growth market and the opportunity landscape remains significant.
This partnership with CDC offers us greater flexibility to accelerate and capitalize on these opportunities and will enable us to increase our investment in ports and logistics infrastructure across Africa. The partnership will create transformational opportunities for millions of people over the next decade.”
Africa has a sixth of the world’s population, but accounts for just 4 per cent of global containerized shipping volumes[i]. Ports are vital to the long-term prosperity and wellbeing of people.
But many ports and logistics facilities in Africa remain constrained, lacking capacity to meet the needs of local economies.
DP World and CDC Group say that their long-term partnership will help change that. It will address the stark imbalance in global trade by supporting the modernization and expansion of ports and inland logistics in Africa.
In Somaliland, Berbera port is a cornerstone of the economy and by 2035 is expected to facilitate trade equivalent to nearly 27 percent of GDP and 75 percent of total trade, supporting indirectly 53,000 jobs in Somaliland.
The major investment in the port and surrounding logistics will increase the availability and affordability of goods for over a quarter of the population, with the greatest benefit felt by people who are dependent on imported staple food items.
Millions of people who live in the wider region will enjoy similar benefits. Berbera port also plays a key role in enabling humanitarian aid to enter the region, reaching close to 2 million refugees and internally displaced populations.
The port will also provide a gateway to international markets for Somaliland businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as supporting the growth of nascent export industries stymied today by logistics inefficiency.
A variety of sectors are expected to benefit from the expansion, including exporters of livestock, agricultural and perishable goods, textiles and construction materials.
The port is the first major foreign direct investment (FDI) and the first international non-mineral concession known in Somaliland.
The partnership will also invest in a number of associated logistics projects that will further bolster trade capacity, including the Special Economic Zone outside the town of Berbera.
Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, CDC Group, said that stable and flourishing economies are built on reliable access to global and intra-continental trade.
“Africa’s full potential is limited by inadequate ports and trade bottlenecks, putting the brakes on economic growth in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and undermining social resilience in the least developed parts of the world.
This platform will help entrepreneurs and businesses accelerate growth with access to reliable trade routes and it will help African consumers benefit from the improved reliability and reduced cost of vital goods and food staples,” said O’Donohoe.
He added: “We are proud to support DP World to do even more in Africa, charting a stronger course for African trade around the world.”
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