ATF 2024 day 2: Focus on African infrastructure initiatives
NewsDay two of ATF 2024 in Abidjan focused on sustainable transport solutions, highlighting key infrastructure initiatives to improve Africa’s connectivity.
ATF 2024 overview: African countries must cooperate more closely
The ATF 2024 in Abidjan focused on addressing transport challenges, proposing solutions, and accelerating sustainable logistics connectivity.
The African Development Bank Transport Forum, which was held in Abidjan from 18 to 20 September, set the tone from the outset by highlighting various challenges in the sector, proposing solutions, and outlining future prospects. The ATF 2024 featured high-level panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities.
The theme of the forum – “Africa on the Move—Accelerating Sustainable Transport and Logistics Connectivity” – was a call to unleash transport’s enormous potential to integrate the continent and help African countries prosper.
Read more:
Day 1 report: ATF 2024 kicks off in Abidjan: “Africa has one big advantage”
ATF 2024 day 2: Focus on African infrastructure initiatives
Closer integration
African ministers and government officials responsible for infrastructure and transport called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to increase its support and lead efforts to promote closer integration across the continent and create a large free trade area.
The panel discussion on “The State of Connectivity in Africa” highlighted the role of transport in inclusive growth and job creation.
Also, there was consensus among the panellists that the sector suffers from deficits in funding, human capital, and digital technologies.
To improve trade on a continental scale, countries must cooperate more closely, the ministers acknowledged.
Huge AfCFTA potential
The speakers stressed the need for African countries to develop robust partnerships. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a framework to fully exploit connectivity through infrastructure.
Cross-border corridors are imperative for all countries. They enable the free flow of goods and people and better position the AfCFTA to achieve its intra-African trade objectives. This would make the continent the largest free trade area in the world.
Credit: African Development Bank
In addition to road transport, the forum addressed the resilience of African ports and airports in the face of external shocks such as climate change and market fluctuations. Emphasis was placed on transitioning to greener and more efficient transport modes, particularly in urban areas, and developing innovative financial solutions to fund transformative infrastructure projects.
The aviation sector faces numerous constraints (taxation, accessibility issues, limited cooperation between airlines, and infrastructure quality), while African countries require greater interconnectivity and more funding for climate-resilient infrastructure.
Corridors should be created to unlock genuine economic opportunities, driving growth and offering better prospects for African people. Nonetheless, the discussion focused on the importance of human capital, which drives innovation.
Connectivity also involves increasing trade between countries, with single border checkpoints and harmonised regional regulations. Several speakers emphasised the need for optimal use of digital tools and artificial intelligence in transport systems.
The speakers also agreed that African governments should harmonise infrastructure development policies, invest in training, support the single market for air transport, strengthen climate-resilient connectivity infrastructure, and fully harness the immense potential of the AfCFTA.
AfDB increases investment
This forum came as the AfDB had substantially increased its investment in the transport sector. In 2023, the Bank financed US$2.49 billion in transport projects across the continent, marking a 36% 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 modernise the continent’s transport infrastructure is more urgent than ever. Demand for transport is also projected to rise by as much as eightfold by 2040, and the forum addressed these challenges directly, fostering dialogue between governments, experts, donors, and the private sector.