Chairman Participates in a panel on Africa’s Connectivity at Global Forum 2025
On June 28th , Chairman participated as a panelist in the High-Level Panel titled "Unlocking Africa’s Connectivity Potential" at the Global Transport Connectivity Forum 2025, held under the theme "Seamless Connectivity, Limitless Possibilities."
Moderated by Mr. Zafer Ateş, Ambassador and Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, the panel also included the following distinguished participants: •Mr. Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Morocco •Mr. Ely El Veirick, Minister of Equipment and Transport, Mauritania • Mrs. Ghislaine Ingrid Olga Ebouka Babackas, Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation, and Merchant Marine, Republic of Congo • Mr. Erol Erkan, Acting Chairman, Pacific Eurasia.
In a highly appreciated intervention, Chairman effectively framed the discussion, emphasizing Africa’s strategic geographical positioning at the middle of the continents: to the south of Europe, west of Asia, and east of the Americas and the Caribbean. Africa’s borders encompass the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Southern Ocean, underscoring its significance in global trade connectivity. Africa's population is projected to surpass China's within the next 25 years, positioning the continent as a significant market driven by its youthful demographic.
The Chairman highlighted that connectivity is intrinsically linked to trade, but achieving this connectivity demands peace and stability. He underscored current challenges posed by critical global chokepoints, including closures due to conflicts at the Suez Canal and Bosporus Strait (which has not seen such a low level of maritime activity in the past two decades), and vulnerabilities linked to geopolitical tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Considering that maritime trade constitutes approximately 80% of global trade volume, maintaining open and secure maritime routes is vital. Chairman aptly resumed that establishing connectivity contributes significantly to peace, while peace itself fosters greater connectivity—an essential, interdependent relationship of "chicken-and-egg" connundrum.
During the Panel, Aboubaker Omar Hadi also presented Djibouti’s plan to develop a
transafrican railway from the Indian ocean to the Atlantic to bridge the continents. He added that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be used as a unified trade platform to foster collaboration and achieving sustainable growth.
The moderator agreed with the Chairman that the trade has physical barrier and non-physical barrier. The latter can be addressed with multilateralism and the WTO agreements.