ABIDJAN, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations began Thursday in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Port of Abidjan, a vital hub for the West African country's foreign trade and customs revenue.
The opening day featured an inaugural conference, film screenings, visits to exhibition stands, and a tour of the grain terminal. Festivities will continue on Friday with panel discussions and an open day for the public to explore the port.
"The Port of Abidjan is a source of pride because it is a major hub for convergence, cooperation, and solidarity with funders and hinterland countries," Prime Minister Robert Beugre Mambe said at the opening ceremony.
Officially inaugurated on Feb. 5, 1951, the Port of Abidjan has grown into a key transit and transshipment hub and an important fishing port in West Africa. Mambe called for further expansion and stronger logistical infrastructure to position the port as a strategic center for economic integration and development in Cote d'Ivoire and across the region.
The port has benefited from financial and technical support from China for modernization projects, including the widening and deepening of the Vridi Canal and the construction of a second container terminal. These upgrades have enabled the port to accommodate larger vessels and boost container handling capacity.
According to Director General of the Abidjan Port Authority Hien Yacouba Sie, total traffic in 2024 reached 40.2 million tons, a 15.6 percent increase from the previous year, while container traffic rose 33 percent to 1.6 million units. He said that the port manages 75 percent of Cote d'Ivoire's foreign trade, contributes about 79 percent of customs revenue, and hosts more than 42 percent of the country's major industrial units. ■