Belgian development agency Enabel and the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport collaborate

The FPS Mobility and Transport is the reference in Belgium for road traffic, shipping, aviation and railway transport advice, information and services. Enabel proposed to collaborate on maritime transportation projects.

Enabel’s Managing director Jean Van Wetter about the opportunities: “Enabel has signed partnerships with several Belgian public services. The expertise of the FPS Mobility and Transport is special in that Enabel will use it to strengthen public instances in partner countries in diverse areas such as urban development, environmental protection, safety and good governance.”

Emmanuelle Vandamme, President of the FPS Mobility and Transport: “A common approach is needed to face the many global challenges. Collaboration therefore offers added value to all. Our Federal Public Service can share its expertise with developing countries and also benefit of international support of Enabel, particularly in Africa.”

The partnership will lead to immediate collaboration in Benin. Benin’s Port of Cotonou is one of the largest harbours of West Africa. Enabel works with Benin’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport at modernising the Port and improving its competitiveness and performance. The goal is to improve the Port’s competitive position by facilitating investments and supporting the functioning of various Port actors while paying attention to the environment.

"The Port of Cotonou is the powerhouse of Benin's economy. To develop it, we need expert assistance to strengthen our maritime administration, which is in the process of implementing many international maritime conventions," underlines Urbain Tchiakpe, Deputy Secretary-General of Benin's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. 

Benin lies at the Gulf of Guinea, which is presently prone to piracy. The FPS’s Directorate-General Shipping will share its maritime security expertise to address the matter.