By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News – Land Section
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – May 22, 2025
“What we’re building is not just infrastructure — it’s resilience for the future of regional trade.”
— Jean-Marc Morel, CEO of Africa Global Logistics
Strategic Expansion to Ease Pressure on Coastal Terminals
Africa Global Logistics (AGL), one of the largest logistics operators in Francophone West Africa, has announced a five-year investment plan worth €60 million to develop a series of inland logistics hubs across Côte d’Ivoire. The initiative is aimed at reducing dependence on the congested Port of Abidjan and improving cargo transit to landlocked neighbors such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The announcement was made earlier today at the AGL regional headquarters in Abidjan, confirming that the first three hubs will be launched in Ferkessédougou, Bouaké, and San Pedro. Each site will serve as a dry port equipped with temperature-controlled storage, truck parks, and customs clearance zones.
A Move to Strengthen Regional Supply Chains
With the Port of Abidjan currently handling over 90% of the country’s maritime traffic — including high-volume exports such as cocoa and cashew nuts — the pressure on infrastructure has intensified. AGL’s inland network is designed to decentralize cargo flows, reduce bottlenecks, and cut delivery times by up to 25% on key trade corridors.
“These inland platforms will allow us to clear goods faster, closer to the markets where they are needed,” said Morel. “It’s about giving flexibility to both shippers and governments.”
Local Jobs, Regional Reach
Each hub is expected to generate over 300 direct jobs in its first phase and several hundred more through secondary services such as warehousing, packaging, and last-mile distribution.
By integrating these new facilities into AGL’s rail and road network, the company aims to connect West African exporters more efficiently to global shipping routes, especially as demand for African raw materials continues to grow.
Looking Beyond Borders
This investment fits into a broader regional vision. As African economies deepen integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the ability to move goods quickly and reliably inland is becoming a competitive necessity.
With global supply chains increasingly regionalized, Côte d’Ivoire’s strategic location makes it a natural distribution base — and AGL intends to leverage that advantage fully.
The Logistic News – Land Section
Field reports and strategic updates on inland logistics, ground operations, and the routes that connect continents.
