African governments and businesses are seeking fresh private sector investment to support supply chains as the continent strives for industrialization.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is increasingly standing out as a reliable, long-term investor and partner for growth. MSC’s approach chimes with the calls from government leaders attending the June 2023 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire for support to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA/ZLECAF).

Since agreeing the €5.7 billion acquisition of the business that’s now called AGL (Africa Global Logistics), MSC has already introduced new shipping line port calls for Africa, won an African container terminal concession and set about expanding its warehousing and shipping agencies network on the continent.

Commenting in a conference interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, MSC CEO Soren Toft cited a new port call at Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, and the related new feeder service calling at Matadi in the DRC, as two examples of how MSC is supporting African importers and exporters. The investment in these services will be complemented by MSC subsidiary TiL taking on the container terminal concession at Walvis Bay, Namibia. Meanwhile, the company is boosting rail connections between ports and hinterland markets in West Africa, as well as scoping new office locations in several countries, Soren said at the forum.

“It’s all testament to the commitment and the belief we have in the continued development of Africa,” Soren said, referring to the vision of the Aponte family that started with MSC’s first liner service to Africa in 1971. “We have a long-term mindset. You cannot be committed to Africa if you are just looking at the next quarterly earnings.”