It was during a very simple ceremony in the premises of the General Directorate of the Autonomous Port of Cotonou that the act was formalized on Wednesday 04 April 2018. The Belgian Christiaan de Block is now the Director General of the Port Autonome de Cotonou following the contract of delegation signed between the port of Antwerp and the Beninese government.
Previously Director of Operations for the Antwerp Port Authority, Mr C. de Block took the reins of a port that was almost dying and abandoned by most economic operators. The latter having now made the option of that of Lomé. Statistics published by Marine Net Trafic, over the period from January 29 to February 11, 2018, (two weeks), the port of Cotonou welcomed 39 vessels while that of Lomé, over the same period, welcomed 131. many experts this change of Director is welcome. Indeed, Cotonou Autonomous Port could lose many customers in the coming weeks. And for good reason, the government has revised upward the fee schedule of the Port. A decision that could discourage economic operators. A new fee schedule has been in effect since January 2018 at the Cotonou Autonomous Port (Pac). This is a new fee schedule for the services provided by the Port. It is a circular note from the Directorate General that has made public the new forecasts. In the note, all fees have increased by 30 to 40%. According to some port stakeholders, everything will now change on the port platform. In fact, if the benefits increase in price, the handlers and all the other service providers will also increase the costs of their services. Worse, the cost of the services of ship charterers and insurers will be increased. This change took place without any consultation. Port stakeholders have never been consulted by the government on this sudden upheaval that risks demoralizing economic operators. This is a rather surprising decision that several economic operators have decried. The port of Cotonou already in difficulty could lose many customers. This lung of the national economy could work in slow motion. This would further affect public finances. Obviously, the Rupture Diet is determined to kill the smelling hen. The consequences of this decision will be disastrous. And the national socio-economic environment could still deteriorate. (Read the circular note instituting the new Port Fee Schedule).
