Africa-Press – Angola. Porto do Lobito will hold a thematic fair, from 24 to 28 March 2023, in this city, with the aim of promoting interaction with its partners and the community in general, this Monday.
Along with other activities, this is also part of the festivities program for the ninety-fifth anniversary of that port company, to be celebrated on the 24th of March this year.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of its Board of Directors, Celso Rosas, said that people will be able to find out how Porto is structured, organized, as well as the interaction with its partners, namely shipping agents, brokers, Captaincy, General Tax Administration (AGT), Maritime Health and Fiscal Police.
He assured that it will be a pedagogical fair, where there will be a series of lectures with the aim of addressing various topics, especially with regard to the company’s functionality.
“We will satisfy the more than 500 requests to visit Porto”, assured the PCA, saying that those interested will be able to acquire knowledge at a Fair where their partners will also be present.
On the occasion, Celso Rosas announced the third meeting of Quadros, under the motto “Porto do Lobito – Porto Senhorio”, to which specialists will be invited to speak on topics such as Logistics and Transport in Angola, Perspectives in logistics and Transport “Corredor do Lobito”, the certification of cargo in Angola, the digital customs system “ASYCUDA”, among others.
Asked about the delivery process of multipurpose terminals (general and containerized cargo) and the ore carrier to the winning consortium of the public tender for its exploration, the PCA said that the human, technical and material premises are being created.
“We are working together to ensure delivery is made in the short term. This work involves the participation of the Port, the Benguela Railway (CFB) and the consortium itself”, he explained.
Referring to the improvements achieved in recent times, Celso Rosas highlighted the commitment of the workers, where everyone sees themselves in the same objectives, with discipline and responsibility, always with a view to raising the level of production and productivity, in the eagerness to obtain more revenue.
“We need money to ensure the investments we intend to make, especially in the field of technologies and equipment, such as machines, for the process of loading and unloading ships”, he justified.
Celso Rosas recognized, however, some limitations that the company still observes, namely in the speed of cargo handling.
“We have to work harder so that we can increase this capacity. We are recovering a series of machines and equipment that are still inoperative”, she explained.
He added, on the other hand, that the company needs to improve its commercial and marketing attitude.
To this end, he said that the Board of Directors has a concrete plan, which will be carried out this year, to have a greater insertion, not only in the region, but beyond the continent.
Regarding customer debt, budgeted at more than twenty billion kwanzas, he said that a commission had been created that had been negotiating with partners and that some understanding had been achieved, as they are registered in documents.
According to the PCA, the company understands the economic and financial difficulties of its partners, which is why it has been drawing up an amortization plan to be met in the medium and long term.
He made a point of talking about the social responsibility of the Port of Lobito, saying that the company has been doing what it can to contribute to the reduction of poverty and the occupation of youth, through sport.
“We are promoting the practice of sports through the club of Casa Pessoa do Porto do Lobito (CPPL), which currently has 400 young people, practicing basketball, handball and roller hockey”, emphasized the PCA.
The Port of Lobito was designed in 1903, following the construction of the Benguela Railway, but it was in 1928 that commercial operations began, with the mooring of the first ship.
In 1973, the peak was reached, in terms of cargo handled, with approximately three million tons of miscellaneous material, of which 50% referred to cargo in transit.
From 2008 to 2012, it benefited from the rehabilitation, expansion and modernization project, undertaken by the Angolan State, and is currently waiting to become Porto Senhorio, with the delivery of the multipurpose and mineral terminals, to the consortium composed of the companies Trafigura, Victuris and Mota Engil.
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