DP World opens new terminal in Djibouti
DP World, one of the world’s largest port operators, on Saturday officially opened its new Doraleh Container Terminal in Djibouti, the largest and most modern terminal in East Africa. The Doraleh terminal has the capacity to handle 1.2 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent container units) annually while its 18-metre draft and 1,050-metre quay can easily accommodate largest ships in service including 10,000-15,000 TEU “Super-Post-Panamax” vessels.
“Doraleh Container Terminal is a testament to a vision shared by the President of Djibouti, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, DP World and Dubai World, and is a lasting model for large-scale public-private partnerships in Africa,” said DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
Sulayem said the terminal’s capacity over time will be raised to about 3 million TEUs as trade in the region expands.
“We have invested both financial and human resources in Djibouti over the past nine years as part of our long term commitment to our partnership here. That investment in efficient infrastructure has helped stimulate the economy and supported trade, which in turn has benefited our business,” said Sulayem.
Djibouti is strategically located in East Africa, along one of the fastest growing East-West international shipping routes. About 85 per cent of imports into Djibouti are destined for the land-locked nation of Ethiopia.
The Doraleh terminal is expected to increase port traffic and open up new opportunities for investment and growth, including breaking the country’s reliance on Ethiopia’s trade and attracting other African countries to use the port as a gateway too.
The opening of the new terminal was witnessed by more than 400 local and foreign dignitaries, including Djibouti president Ismael Omar Guelleh and Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
DP World was awarded by the Djibuoti government in 2000 the 20-year concession to operate the Port of Djibouti.
DP World operates 48 terminals and 13 new developments across 31 countries. The port operator has a global capacity of more than 54 million TEUs which it sees increasing significantly in the coming years.
In 2008, DP World handled more than 46.8 million TEUs across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia — an increase of 8 per cent from 2007.
With a pipeline of expansion and development projects in key growth markets, including India, China and the Middle East, capacity is expected to rise to around 95 million TEUs over the next ten years.
This year, two terminals in Algeria will be added to its portfolio.
“Doraleh Container Terminal is a testament to a vision shared by the President of Djibouti, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, DP World and Dubai World, and is a lasting model for large-scale public-private partnerships in Africa,” said DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
Sulayem said the terminal’s capacity over time will be raised to about 3 million TEUs as trade in the region expands.
“We have invested both financial and human resources in Djibouti over the past nine years as part of our long term commitment to our partnership here. That investment in efficient infrastructure has helped stimulate the economy and supported trade, which in turn has benefited our business,” said Sulayem.
Djibouti is strategically located in East Africa, along one of the fastest growing East-West international shipping routes. About 85 per cent of imports into Djibouti are destined for the land-locked nation of Ethiopia.
The Doraleh terminal is expected to increase port traffic and open up new opportunities for investment and growth, including breaking the country’s reliance on Ethiopia’s trade and attracting other African countries to use the port as a gateway too.
The opening of the new terminal was witnessed by more than 400 local and foreign dignitaries, including Djibouti president Ismael Omar Guelleh and Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
DP World was awarded by the Djibuoti government in 2000 the 20-year concession to operate the Port of Djibouti.
DP World operates 48 terminals and 13 new developments across 31 countries. The port operator has a global capacity of more than 54 million TEUs which it sees increasing significantly in the coming years.
In 2008, DP World handled more than 46.8 million TEUs across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia — an increase of 8 per cent from 2007.
With a pipeline of expansion and development projects in key growth markets, including India, China and the Middle East, capacity is expected to rise to around 95 million TEUs over the next ten years.
This year, two terminals in Algeria will be added to its portfolio.