GLOBAL marine terminal operator DP World has opened West Africa's largest and most modern container terminal, Terminal a Conteneur, more doubling its designed capacity, reports Dubai's Khaleej Times.
The new facility, developed and operated by DP World, was inaugurated by company chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade.
Expanded and upgraded by DP World Dakar following a concession agreement signed in 2007, the terminal's capacity is more than doubling from less than 300,000 to more than 600,000 TEU.
The opening ceremony at the Port of Dakar was attended by Dakar Port Authority managing director Bara Sady, DP World CEO Mohammed Sharaf, DP World Africa senior vice-president and managing director Joost Kruijning and DP World Dakar CEO Guido Heremans.
Said Mr Bin Sulayem: "Our experience is that economies grow as efficient infrastructure comes on line. Today it opens up a whole new world of economic possibilities for Senegal and West Africa."
Said Mr Sharaf: "As Africa's favoured first port of call for vessels south-bound from Europe, DP World Dakar occupies an important place in our global portfolio."
Said Mr Sady: "This shows our commitment to realise our ambition to improve quality of service at the Dakar port container terminal."