Under the auspices of Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, Séraphin BHALAT, Director General of the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire, and Christ DANARADJOU, Deputy Director General of HAROPA Port, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on May 24, 2025, in Paris. The signing ceremony was attended by Congo’s Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation, and Merchant Marine, Ingrid Olga Ghislaine EBOUKA BABAKAS, as well as other institutional stakeholders from Congo and France, and senior officials from both port authorities, including Serge César BOUYA, Deputy Director General of the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire, and Pierre DECOUSSY, Head of International Development at HAROPA PORT.
This agreement, which was announced during the Business Forum organized by the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire in September 2024, marks a significant step forward in the cooperation between Congo and France. The two nations have decided to elevate their collaboration to a new level—inter-port cooperation—through a strategic partnership signed in a spirit of mutual understanding by Séraphin BHALAT and Christ DANARADJOU, heads of these two major port platforms.
This agreement is a forward-looking initiative that spans several areas of cooperation, including:
- Commercial development through the strengthening of trade networks and maritime flows;
- Promotion of technological innovation;
- Experience sharing, including best practices in port management, logistics, and maritime technologies;
- Sustainability and innovation, through collaboration on initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of port activities;
- Information sharing, particularly on projects targeting the reduction of the carbon footprint of port operations;
- Skills development, via training and technical exchange programs;
- Support for modernization and development projects at the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire;
- Enhancement of logistical corridors between Central Africa and Western Europe.
Congo’s Minister of Transport, Ingrid Olga Ghislaine EBOUKA BABAKAS, emphasized that the signing of this agreement formalizes a collaboration and cooperation between HAROPA PORT—an economic interest group—and the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire. She stated that, on a practical level, “this agreement will help strengthen the capacities of personnel at the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire, who will now be able to benefit from the expertise offered by HAROPA.”
Expressing heartfelt appreciation for the presence of President Denis Sassou Nguesso at the ceremony, she said:
“Your Excellency, we are honored by your presence. Your attendance gives a special and exceptional stamp to this agreement. It shows how committed you are as a Head of State to supporting initiatives that serve the general interest of the nation.”
For the Deputy Director General of HAROPA PORT, this inter-port cooperation agreement represents a new starting point for deepening international trade and promoting port cooperation. HAROPA PORT intends to seize this opportunity to further open communication channels between France and Congo in the port sector and to invest greater energy into fostering friendly exchanges.
According to Christ DANARADJOU, the agreement is also about tackling challenges shared by ports worldwide, optimizing the logistics chain towards maritime transport, and sharing best practices in line with the demands globalization places on modern ports.
He stated: “This type of agreement between two public entities sends a strong pro-business message to economic operators, saying that two public actors are coming together to create the best possible conditions to boost trade and business between them. Economic operators are therefore welcome to further develop flows and investments between the two ports.”
For Séraphin BHALAT, this agreement simply formalizes a longstanding relationship. However, it will serve to boost the dynamic partnership already in place between Pointe-Noire and HAROPA PORT.
Following two decades of major development projects that have transformed the infrastructure and positioning of Pointe-Noire among Africa’s major ports, BHALAT underlined the need to train and upskill port personnel. He remarked:
“We believe that HAROPA can provide us with the expertise necessary to ensure that our staff benefit from best practices as seen in the world’s leading ports.”
BHALAT is convinced that, in order for Pointe-Noire to position itself as a lasting leader and hub port in Central Africa, it must learn from this major port, which is ranked among the world’s best. He aims to rely on HAROPA’s recognized expertise in technical support, technology, equipment, and especially training, to help drive improvements in the environmental performance of Pointe-Noire.
Lastly, it should be noted that HAROPA PORT—a key player in European maritime trade—is France’s leading port complex, encompassing the ports of Le Havre, Rouen, and Paris. It develops international partnerships to foster more sustainable logistics, particularly with African ports.
