Africa Logistics Zone Debuts in Benin, Advancing Cotonou’s Role as a Regional Logistics and Supply Chain Powerhouse
Benin has taken a major step toward positioning itself as West Africa’s leading trade and logistics hub with the launch of the Africa Logistics Zone, a flagship initiative developed jointly by the Port Autonome de Cotonou (PAC) and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI).
Leveraging its strategic coastal location, the Port of Cotonou serves as a vital gateway for cargo destined for landlocked nations such as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The Africa Logistics Zone is designed to maximise this strategic advantage by integrating modern facilities with state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure.
Since partnering with the Port Authority of Cotonou in 2018, PoABI has driven transformative improvements in port efficiency, operational standards, and productivity.
These advancements have earned Cotonou a position among the world’s fastest-improving ports, as highlighted by the Global Container Port Performance Index from S&P and the World Bank.
The Africa Logistics Zone seeks to build on this strong performance, elevating the port into a competitive and future-ready logistics hub for the region.
The programme also includes ASCELA as a strategic advisory partner, bringing expertise in infrastructure planning, logistics optimisation, and sustainable development.
ASCELA Managing Director Nivesh Chaudhary described the initiative as “a visionary plan to unlock West Africa’s potential as a regional trade powerhouse,” reaffirming the company’s commitment to creating an efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible logistics network for Benin and the broader region.
The Africa Logistics Zone will feature next-generation infrastructure, smart logistics systems, and green building design.
It will host modern warehousing, processing, and distribution centres connected through multimodal transport options—facilitating streamlined movement of goods by road, rail, and sea.
Key objectives include advancing value-added services, strengthening trade facilitation, accelerating regional industrialisation, attracting investment, and boosting economic competitiveness.
Project implementation will be driven from ASCELA’s regional headquarters in South Africa, supported by global offices in Gurugram (India), Dubai (UAE), and Singapore.
This international collaboration ensures adherence to global best practices in logistics technology, infrastructure design, and sustainability.
By transforming Cotonou into a modern logistics hub, the Africa Logistics Zone will significantly enhance trade efficiency, lower transport costs, and deepen West Africa’s connectivity to global supply chains.
The initiative is expected to create jobs, stimulate local and foreign investment, and position Benin as a key centre in the African logistics landscape.
For governments and private sector partners alike, the project represents a pivotal step toward elevating West Africa’s role in global commerce.
