Luanda: AD Ports Group today announced the signing of an agreement to develop a digital Single Logistics Trade Window solution for Angola's trade regulator, Agªncia Reguladora de Certifica§o de Carga e Logstica de Angola (ARCCLA), and the purchase of 30 new trucks and 45 new trailers worth approximately US$6 million for its Angolan logistics business, Noatum Unicargas Logistics.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Group has also signed five preliminary agreements with Angolan public- and private-sector partners to explore wider cooperation in areas such as maritime services, cabotage, training, logistics, airport cargo handling services, and healthcare. The agreements were signed by Ricardo Viegas de Abreu, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Angola, and Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO of AD Ports Group.
The expansion of the Group's activities in Angola, where it has already committed to investing US$250 million through 2026 to redevelop and expand Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal, follows six months after the Group began operations in Angola in January. Ricardo Viegas de Abreu emphasized the potential for strengthening Angola's trade infrastructure, stating that this collaboration with AD Ports Group will enhance trade in the region and bolster Angola's economic and social development.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi remarked that the agreements highlight their commitment to transforming Luanda and Angola into a main trade hub for West Africa. The purchase of a new truck fleet for Noatum Unicargas Logistics and the development of a Digital Single Logistics Trade Window are seen as pivotal projects for economic growth in Angola.
The Single Logistics Trade Window agreement and the truck fleet purchase are central to the Group's presence in Angola, focused on the Port of Luanda. This port handles a significant portion of Angola's cargo volumes and provides access to landlocked neighbors like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal is a key staging point for the Group's logistics operations, which are expanding with the addition of new trucks and trailers.
AD Ports Group's digital arm, Maqta Technologies, is developing a digital single logistics trade window solution called JUL for ARCCLA. This system will streamline trade and customs processes, enhancing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. JUL will integrate existing platforms and simplify trade across sea, air, and land.
The Group is also exploring cooperation in various sectors with the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Angola, as well as other Angolan entities such as Agencia Maritima Nacional and Secil Maritima SA. These collaborations aim to advance Angola's maritime and logistics capabilities, and to establish a national maritime academy.
Additionally, the Group's DOCKTOUR joint venture with Burjeel Holding is set to explore opportunities with the Angola Ministry of Health to provide logistics and supply chain services for medical equipment and healthcare supplies in Angola.
