MSC actively participated in the 11th edition of the Africa Business Leaders Forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda on 16-17 May 2024. Under the theme “At the Table or on the Menu: A Critical Moment in Shaping Africa’s Future”, the forum brought together eminent leaders including presidents, business leaders, CEOs, investors and government officials to discuss critical economic issues facing the continent.

Nicolas Sartini, Senior Vice President of Business Development at MSC, represented the company’s leadership team. He participated in a key panel discussion on “AfCFTA: Scaling Intra-African Trade in a Decisive Decade,” where he highlighted MSC’s unwavering commitment to supporting Africa’s economic landscape through substantial investments.

Sartini highlighted MSC’s strong presence in Africa, with operations in over 45 countries and more than 80 weekly calls in 62 different ports. This extensive network not only connects Africa to the rest of the world, but also strengthens intracontinental trade through strategic investments in port terminals located in Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Namibia.

Despite progress in intra-African trade, challenges persist, particularly in the areas of transport logistics, tariff regulations and the development of a skilled workforce.

Sartini said intra-regional exports currently account for only 18% of total exports, in stark contrast to regions such as Europe and Asia-Pacific, where intra-regional figures stand at 71% and 55% respectively.

This disparity underscores the enormous growth potential in intra-African trade, which could be unlocked by addressing logistical and regulatory bottlenecks.

At the forum, Mr. Sartini expressed optimism that these challenges can be overcome, calling for enhanced cooperation and more robust infrastructure to facilitate the movement of trade-ready goods across the continent.

He called for an acceleration of efforts to improve transport links and rationalise tariff structures to boost the efficiency of intra-African trade.

During the Africa CEO Forum, MSC also announced the opening of its new office in Kigali. This strategic expansion demonstrates MSC’s long-term commitment to economic growth and business capacity building in the region.

The new Kigali office will serve as a hub for MSC’s operations in East Africa, ensuring greater responsiveness to local market needs and strengthening our service offering on the continent.

This new location is part of MSC's sustainable strategy to strengthen our presence across all African markets and support the continued development of stronger business networks within and outside Africa.

MSC’s active participation in the Africa CEO Forum reflects our commitment to engage with key stakeholders and contribute to meaningful discussions aimed at shaping a prosperous future for Africa.

Through continued investment and collaboration, MSC remains committed to strengthening the supply chains and economic integration critical to Africa's growth and global trade competitiveness.

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