HAROPA, the alliance between the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris has met Ghanaian companies to present the transport and logistics offers available to and from the Seine gateway. The event took place in the Residence of France in Accra, Ghana.
The event was held in the presence of Richard Anamoo, Executive Director GPHA (Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority), HE François Pujolas, Ambassador of France to Ghana. It was hosted by a delegation led by Nicolas Occis, President of HAROPA and CEO of HAROPA – Port of Rouen.
The delegation presented the wide range of solutions in terms of conventional transport, containers, roll-on/roll-off and breakbulk. Ship-owners, shipping agents, shippers, traders and freight forwarders also attended the event so as to strengthen their African partnerships and offer their services on the river Seine corridor. This official trip to Ghana was to reinforcing the privileged relations between HAROPA and the Western Coast of Africa.
In his speech, M. Philippe DEHAYS, President of Rouen Port Employers’ Association, confirmed that Accra, one of the most dynamic cities in Africa, is a not-to-be-missed destination for HAROPA, and that this visit will be the occasion to foster and develop the relations between the port communities in Ghana and in France.
He also highlighted the importance for the port complex to develop relationships with an Anglophone countries and mainly Ghana, a country with a lot of assets, among which the political stability, the developed legal framework, a good level of infrastructures.
Recalling that ports are today at the heart of the African economies (more than 90% of the trade on the continent is carried out by sea), M. Philippe DEHAYS said that HAROPA wish to become a solid partner and work with Ghanaian partners to optimize bilateral transport costs and to address the challenges raised.
The Ambassador of France to Ghana, H.E François Pujolas, mentioned that in this year where the environment and sustainable development are key stakes for all countries in the world, and referring to the upcoming Paris Conference on Climate Change to be held in December 2015 and to the recent adoption of Sustainable Development goals at the U.N, the excellence proven by HAROPA Port Complex deserves to be highlighted.
H.E Francois Pujolas said that over the past years the interest of French companies that wish to do business with Ghana has been growing continuously. He recalled that high-level exchanges between France and Ghana give a priority to strengthening the economic cooperation, which at the occasion of President Mahama’s visit to France early October and during the discussions that took place last spring in Accra between President Mahama and a delegation of MEDEF, the largest organization of French companies.
HAROPA, the 5th largest port complex in Northern Europe, is a joint venture between the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris. Connected to every continent owing to a first-rate international shipping offer (with connections to 600 ports worldwide), the “one-stop” hub forms a global transport and logistics system, capable of providing a comprehensive end-to-end service. HAROPA handles over 120 million tons of cargo by sea and waterway each year. HAROPA business represents 160,000 jobs.
