The work of the 12th session of the general assembly of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UCCA), in collaboration with the Office de gestion du freight multimodal (Ogefrem), was opened on Tuesday, April 20 in Kinshasa by the chief by the Congolese State Félix Tshisekedi, current President of the African Union, in the presence of representatives of 19 UCCA member countries.
“I believe that the coordination between the actions of the shippers and those of the general secretariat of Zlecaf will allow the achievement of optimal conditions for African economic integration”, declared the Congolese president, paraphrasing Kwame Nkrumah, one of the founding fathers of the Pan-Africanism.
Zlecaf Secretary General Wankele Mene and outgoing UCCA President Ervé Sébastien Iboudo took turns saying their organizations should help improve African economies through trade.
In his address, the incoming UCCA President, Patient Sayiba, stressed that the ultimate objective pursued by the shippers’ councils in freight management is to promote the foreign trade of African states, positively impacting downward consumer prices, in short, make state economies competitive; which in many ways meets the purpose of Zlecaf.
“The work in Kinshasa should lead to some recommendations. This concerns, in particular, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the UCCA and the General Secretariat of the ZLECAF; the granting of observer status to UCCA within the various ZLECAF committees; support to UCCA by the ZLECAF Secretariat so that Shippers’ Councils are created in all States Parties, ”said Patient Sayiba.
The work will be completed on April 24.
