The International Maritime Organization, Africa Transport Policy Program, and World Bank, working with Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport, brought together a regional workshop in Dar es Salaam to push forward the digitalisation of ports across 12 African countries. The minister of transport, Makame Mbarawa, opened the five-day event held from 20 to 24 April.
The workshop focused on encouraging countries to adopt the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business, which defines how shipping and port data should be structured and exchanged electronically to improve communication. It also aimed to expand the use of Maritime Single Windows and Port Community Systems, which are integrated digital platforms that simplify vessel and cargo clearance, cut delays, and improve Africa’s position in global maritime trade.
The event brought together regional and international institutions that are working to turn policy into practice, including the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Development Bank, the African Harbour Masters Committee, and the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce. More than 100 participants, including 36 women, attended from maritime administrations, port authorities, and customs bodies across Angola, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania. They exchanged knowledge and took part in practical capacity-building sessions.
Participants discussed the strategic value of Maritime Single Windows and emphasised the importance of aligning them with the IMO Compendium. They drew on regional needs assessments conducted by the IMO, which identified key challenges and offered recommendations for implementation. Countries also presented their existing port systems, allowing others to learn from their progress, challenges, and opportunities.
The workshop also explored how Port Community Systems can work alongside Maritime Single Windows. It emphasised that MSWs should not operate in isolation but should form part of a wider, coordinated regional system for trade facilitation.
Through the sessions, participants strengthened their understanding of the FAL Convention, improved coordination among port stakeholders, and clarified the policy and financing requirements needed to implement MSWs. This helped equip countries with practical knowledge to move forward with deployment. The discussions also built on insights from the IAPH and World Bank study on port community systems and lessons from global experience.
This workshop followed an earlier regional session held in Abidjan in December 2025 and supports the Fourth Development Plan of SSATP, which focuses on digitalising transport and trade corridors across Africa. Maritime Single Windows continue to gain recognition as tools that can reduce logistics costs, improve efficiency, and strengthen port competitiveness.
SSATP contributed by supporting alignment and coordination of MSW initiatives across countries while also identifying areas where further technical assistance is needed.
The workshop was delivered under the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme with financial support from China, along with funding from the World Bank through the Korea World Bank Partnership Facility and support from Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport. It also built on recent studies showing that successful port digitalisation depends not only on technology but also on strong legal frameworks, institutional capacity, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.
source: maritimafrica.com
African Maritime Council