WALVIS BAY – The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) once again took top honours at the African Ports Evolution Forum held in Cape Town, South Africa last week, with Walvis Bay being named winner of the ‘Port Excellence Award’ for 2013. The event took place on August 26 and 27. Namport’s Manager of Marketing and Sales, Elias Mwenyo, received the award on behalf of Namport.
“The Port Excellence Award recognizes the most efficient port based on productivity, connectivity and ease of transport during the period of August 2012 to July 2013. Other nominees in this category were Transnet National Ports Authority for the Port of Durban, MPDC for the Port of Maputo and Kenya Ports Authority for the Port of Mombasa,” said Namport’s Manager of Corporate Communications, Liz Sibindi.
During the award ceremony, Alan Winde, Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism for the Western Cape Government in South Africa highlighted the importance of recognizing those whose efforts contribute in creating productive ports, supportive networks and fast-tracking Africa’s economic growth and development.
“Africa is poised to be one of the most strategic partners for trade and infrastructure investment in the 21st century. Port and maritime authorities are at the forefront of this development and now play a more pivotal role than ever in the growth of the continent. The award came at a time when Namport is preparing to accommodate the exponential growth of imports and exports scheduled to pass through African ports and is a demonstration that Namport is working towards its vision of being the best performing port in Africa,” he said.
By Eveline de Klerk