Webinar on maritime transport and trade in Africa

The UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2024 highlights the current multifaceted challenges facing maritime transport across the world. It provides insights into current trends and the outlook for maritime transport and trade, and discusses how maritime trade is being upended by disruptions, including in maritime chokepoints.

The report highlights several bright spots across Africa’s shipping sector, evidenced by increases in port calls by both container ships and tankers in Africa. It also shows that while Africa bears the brunt of the Red Sea shipping crisis, the continent continues to make strides in port and vessel performance, trade facilitation and the clean energy transition.

Objective

This webinar will bring together key stakeholders in the maritime industry in Africa and beyond to discuss and address the vulnerabilities faced by global supply chains, particularly at critical chokepoints. They will explore strategies for enhancing resilience against geopolitical tensions and climate-related disruptions, focusing on:

1. Identifying risks and challenges faced by key maritime routes and their impact on global trade.
2. Promoting collaboration and partnerships among governments, industry leaders, and NGOs to develop cohesive responses to disruptions.
3. Exploring solutions by sharing innovative practices and technologies for low-carbon shipping and efficient logistics that can adapt to changing circumstances.
4. Discussing workforce development and the infrastructure investments required to strengthen maritime operations in vulnerable regions, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries.
5. Examining the role of regulations in enhancing maritime safety, security and environmental standards.

Target participants

The webinar is aimed at stakeholders in the maritime industry from Africa and beyond, including policymakers, representatives of international organizations, port management authorities, port operators, logistics and maritime service providers, shipowners and their associations, freight forwarders and other participants.