The African Development Bank is set to host its second Transport Forum to address the continent's critical infrastructure and logistics challenges.
Scheduled to begin today, 18 September, and run for three days in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the forum will rally key stakeholders from across the continent for a transformative conversation under the theme "Africa on the Move--Accelerating Sustainable Transport and Logistics Connectivity."
Cote d'Ivoire Transport Minister Amadou Kone and African Development Bank Senior Vice President Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala will open the event.
This forum comes as the African Development Bank has substantially increased its investment in the transport sector. In 2023, the bank financed $2.49 billion in transport projects across the continent, marking a 36 percent increase from the previous year.
With Africa's population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 and its economic output expected to triple by 2040, the need to expand and modernize the continent's transport infrastructure is more urgent than ever. Demand for transport is also projected to rise by as much as eight times by 2040, and the forum aims to tackle these challenges head-on, fostering dialogue between governments, experts, donors, and the private sector.
The three-day event will feature high-level panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities.
The first two days will focus on diagnosing key issues across transport subsectors, exploring essential logistics links within African trade, and identifying sustainable transport solutions to enhance resilience and independence. Topics will include asset management, infrastructure maintenance, cost recovery, and access to finance at national and subnational levels. The highlights include a ministerial roundtable, bringing together transport leaders from across the continent to foster collaboration.
Among the notable participants will be several ministers, including: Dr. Amédé Koffi Kouakou, Ivorian Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance; El Malick Ndiaye, Senegal's Minister of Infrastructure and Terrestrial and Aerial Transport; Adama Luc Sorgho, Minister for Infrastructure and connectivity, Burkina Faso; Nweze David Umahi, Nigeria's Minister of Works; and John Mutorwa, Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport. From the African Development Bank, Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization will be a major participant.
A key focus will be on developing and enhancing transport corridors, which are crucial for reducing transportation time and costs, boosting intra-African trade, and driving economic growth. These corridors are vital for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a game-changer for the continent's trade landscape.
In addition to road transport, the forum will address the resilience of African ports and airports in the face of external shocks such as climate change and market fluctuations. Emphasis will be placed on transitioning to greener and more efficient transport modes, especially in urban areas, and developing innovative financial solutions to fund transformative infrastructure projects.
With its ambitious agenda and expected high-profile attendees, the 2nd African Development Bank Transport Forum promises to shape the future of African transport and logistics. As the continent grapples with rapid urbanization, industrialization, and the effects of climate change, the outcomes of this forum could have far-reaching implications for Africa's economic development and regional integration efforts.
