Amara Kallon: "Morocco is a Recognized Leader in Logistics and Mobility on the Continent"

Amara Kallon: The year 2018 marked a decisive turning point for Africa's transport and logistics sector. It saw the creation of the African Union of Transport and Logistics Organizations, a strategic continental entity dedicated to promoting and coordinating initiatives in these fields, from the north to the south of the continent. Through an ambitious strategic plan, this union aims to build a prosperous, peaceful, and developed continent, perfectly aligned with regional integration goals and sustainable growth.

Today, at the first congress of this structure, our discussions take place at a crucial moment for Africa. Global dynamics, technological advances, and sustainability imperatives present both challenges and opportunities to transform our continent.

Africa is a continent endowed with immense potential. With a population expected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, our economies are rapidly expanding, creating a vast, young, and dynamic market. However, for Africa to truly harness this potential, it is essential that we focus on the efficiency and sustainability of our supply chains. These will form the foundation of the next phase of our industrialization and development.

The supply chain in the transport sector represents a major challenge for Africa, particularly due to border restrictions and visa formalities. Historically, Africa's logistics infrastructure lags behind global standards due to chronic underinvestment, inadequate policy frameworks, and the continent's significant geographical diversity. We face the challenge of fragmented infrastructure: our road, rail, and port networks often operate in silos, disconnected from broader continental supply chains. This lack of integration creates bottlenecks that raise the cost of goods and slow down regional trade.

Additionally, the development of our rail, road, and port infrastructure is still insufficient, causing numerous blockages. In this context, the creation of the UAOTL is crucial, as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) explores ways to mobilize our goods and services, ensuring their movement from one nation to another across the continent, regardless of borders.

This union gives us the confidence that we can overcome these obstacles. Regional integration remains a fundamental issue. With ECOWAS, SADC, and other regional blocs, it is essential to consider how we can leverage these structures to open borders and allow the free movement of goods and services.

To achieve Africa's structural transformation, it is essential to adopt an integrated and sustainable supply chain model that improves connectivity while minimizing our environmental footprint.

The challenges to be addressed are many. First, infrastructure development is crucial. Then, it is vital to strengthen regional integration and cooperation, while placing sustainability at the heart of all our actions.

Moreover, the adoption of digitalization and new technologies is a fundamental aspect of this transformation. These innovations must be fully integrated into our development strategies. Skills development and capacity building are also paramount. It is important to note that 62% of Africa's population is young. The question should not be: "What are the negative effects of technology?" but rather: "How can we leverage technology to equip our young people with the skills necessary for the transformation we desire?"

Another key element of our success is the role of public-private partnerships, which, in my opinion, are essential and justify our gathering here today.

We must consider establishing public-private partnerships while clarifying the role each must play. Policymakers must develop suitable legislative frameworks and regulatory environments and implement favorable policies to enhance the efficiency of logistics institutions, thereby facilitating the transport of goods. The private sector also plays a crucial role; it must mobilize resources and collaborate with banks and logistics institutions. No sector can achieve this transformation alone.

Governments, international organizations, and the private sector must work together. Private investments will be essential to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. Additionally, public-private partnerships will help bridge the funding gap and ensure the swift execution of projects aligned with the continent’s long-term development goals.

Today, air travel is no longer necessary for intercontinental movement. By renovating our roads, we could establish direct links between Sierra Leone and Morocco, while paving the way for exchanges that could extend to Australia. To ensure the effective circulation of goods and services, this dynamic must become the foundation of Africa's future.

We must act to open our borders. Visa restrictions are a major obstacle. It is also crucial to capitalize on our progress in logistics, mobility, and transport systems. This will create true corridors for Africa.

Over the past five days, I have been particularly impressed by the remarkable transformation of the transport sector in Morocco. In Casablanca, I had the opportunity to observe buses equipped with Wi-Fi, offering passengers a modern and connected transport experience. I also discovered the high-speed train, a key element of the infrastructure revolutionizing mobility in the country.

This evolution illustrates Morocco's ability to ensure efficient and smooth travel. I saw the scale of the road infrastructure, which highlights the importance of having adequate roads to facilitate the movement of services. Today, Morocco positions itself as a leader in logistics and mobility, facilitating the transport of goods and services across the African continent.

It is also noteworthy that Morocco’s road network spans over 1,700 kilometers, connecting the country to Mauritania, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and all the way to my homeland, Sierra Leone. This interconnection represents a significant opportunity to strengthen intra-African trade and exchanges.