The Director General of Burkinabe Customs, Mathias Kadiogo has successfully negotiated a pre-agreement with the authorities of the port of Antwerp in Belgium for the opening of a port platform or “porc sec in Burkina Faso. The Belgian party and the Burkinabè players in the sector have agreed on a forthcoming meeting to define the outlines of a collaboration that promises to be win-win.

On the sidelines of the 141st and 142nd sessions of the Customs Cooperation Council held from 22 to 24 June 2023 in Brussels, the DG of Customs, Mathias Kadiogo had a very fruitful working session at the port of Antwerp in Belgium.

Accompanied by the Director of the National Customs School, Casimir Sawadogo, the project manager Victorien Zoungrana and the technical adviser, Patrick Yaméogo, they were welcomed by the director of the International Port of Antwerp, Stefan Cassimon for a guided tour of the facilities. of said port.

The port of Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe.

In terms of maritime links, Africa represents 11% of its activities. For 3 years, the Port of Antwerp has had a physical presence in West Africa precisely at the Port of Cotonou.

DG Kadiogo, seduced by the opportunities of this port platform, has submitted an offer of collaboration.

It is about the creation, thanks to the support of the Belgian part, of a dry port which will be a terminal of the maritime operations of Antwerp whose exploitation can be opened to other structures.

The Director of the port of Antwerp, after analyzing the offer from Burkina Faso, affirmed the interest of its structure for the construction of a dry port in Burkina Faso.

“From the outset, the idea of a partnership with Burkina Faso is worthy of interest for us. It would be wise for the two parties to meet again in the coming weeks either in Ouagadougou or here in Antwerp to refine the outlines of the partnership. The realization of such a platform will be profitable for all” affirmed Stefan Cassimon director of the international Port of Antwerp .

A convergence of vision which delighted the DG of Customs, Mr. Kadiogo.

“At the end of the working session, we obtained a preliminary agreement for the construction, hand in hand, with the port of Antwerp (of a dry port). Together with all the players in the sector, the Chamber of Commerce, the Burkinabè Shipper Council and Customs, we will prepare this future meeting in order to concretize this beginning of the partnership” explained the DG of Customs.

As regards the sessions of the Customs Cooperation Council, they dedicated the election of the American Ian Saunders to the post of Secretary General who beat his Togolese challenger, Kokou Tchodié. Also the South African, Edward Kieswetter was elected President of the Council.

Source: Burkina Information Agency