Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, and his high-level accompanying delegation, which included the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, as well as the EU Ambassador in Cairo.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Ahmad Fahmy, said the meeting tackled the firm relations between Egypt and the European Union, with both sides commending the momentum in their bilateral cooperation. This was culminated in recent months with the declaration of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership and the convening of the Egypt-EU Investment Conference. During the meeting, the two sides also confirmed their commitment to exploring new domains of cooperation within the framework of this strategic partnership, particularly in the fields of investment and trade, as well as energy, migration, and environmental issues, so as to advance mutual interests in the face of their shared challenges.

The discussions also focused on the situation in Gaza and the Middle East. They reviewed the massive efforts by Egypt and its partners to achieve a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages and detainees, with a view to ending the catastrophic humanitarian tragedy endured by the Palestinians in Gaza and paving the way for the enforcement of the two-state solution, which would open avenues for peace, coexistence, stability, and development in the region.

President El-Sisi warned against the danger of the ongoing escalation, which pushes toward an expansion of the cycle of the conflict. The President underscored the responsibilities of the international community and the EU to exert intense pressure toward reaching an agreement to end the ongoing war, including violence and the escalation in the West Bank, in a manner that defuses regional tensions and restores security and stability in the region.

Mr. Borrell expressed deep appreciation for Egypt’s role as a cornerstone of stability in the region, stressing the EU’s interest in continuous consultations with Egypt and in supporting its diligent efforts to maintain regional stability during this critical phase. President El-Sisi commended Mr. Borrell for his objective and fair stances over the past period.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy yesterday concluded a two-day mission to Port Sudan, where they reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to reaching all Sudanese in need and called on the international community to urgently act to end the extreme health and humanitarian crisis.

During their visit, Dr Tedros and Dr Balkhy met with Sudanese leaders, including Lt. Gen. Abdul Fatah Al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council; Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Dr. Malik Agar; and Federal Minister of Health Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim Awadallah. The discussions centered on the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict and the critical need for unhindered humanitarian access to ensure that life-saving aid reaches all those in need, regardless of their location.

“The international community has seemingly forgotten about Sudan and is paying little heed to the conflict tearing it apart, with serious repercussions for the region,” Dr Tedros said during a press conference held today in Port Sudan. “That is why I have come to Sudan. I am here, with my sister Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director, to meet with the wide range of partners involved in the response, and to call for urgent and scaled up action to provide more resources, more access to humanitarian aid, and more security to health workers and the patients they serve.”

He added: “We are calling on the world to wake up and help Sudan out of the nightmare it is living through. … We must not fail the people of Sudan.”

Much of Sudan’s health system has been devastated by the conflict, with more than 100 attacks on healthcare facilities in the over 500 days of conflict leading to significant casualties among health workers and patients. The insecurity has forced many health workers to flee with their families, worsening the shortage of medical staff. This exodus has further weakened the health system’s ability to provide essential services, leaving many Sudanese without access to critical care.

The high-level WHO mission included a visit to a nutrition stabilization center supported by WHO, where Dr Tedros and Dr Balkhy saw firsthand the impact of the malnutrition crisis gripping Sudan. Currently, 3.6 million children are acutely malnourished, with 730 000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated food insecurity, making it increasingly difficult to deliver essential nutrition and health services to vulnerable populations.

At an internally displaced persons camp, Dr Tedros and Dr Balkhy saw the difficult living conditions the people face. The camp’s residents are struggling with a lack of food, medicine, and clean water, exposing them to heightened risk of disease outbreaks and other health threats. The daily risks include threat of gender-based violence, particularly against the estimated four million women and girls at risk due to the ongoing conflict.

Dr Balkhy emphasized the critical need to respect the sanctity of healthcare, in line with international humanitarian law. “Sudan’s health infrastructure is in ruins, with many facilities destroyed, looted, or abandoned. To rebuild and stabilize the health system, there must be significant investment not only in restoring facilities but also in strengthening the health workforce,” Dr Balkhy said. She linked this to the broader economic aspect, noting that without a functioning health system, the economic recovery and future stability of Sudan are at risk.

Following the mission, Dr Tedros and Dr Balkhy underscored the need for concerted international action – both to advance peace and provide the necessary short- and long-term aid. “Our priority is to ensure that every Sudanese in need receives the assistance they require, wherever they are in the country. This will only be possible through sustained peace, substantial investment in health infrastructure, and full, unimpeded access for humanitarian efforts across Sudan by whatever means needed, including both cross-line and cross-border from neighboring countries.

“The only way forward is peace, for which the warring parties themselves have the greatest responsibility, with support from the international community. The world must not look away—this crisis demands our immediate and collective response.”

The conflict has left some 25 million people — more than half of the country’s population — in dire need of humanitarian aid. Of these, 14.7 million require urgent assistance for a range of life-saving support, for which the humanitarian sector has requested US$ 2.7 billion, which is less than half of the funding required.

WHO’s current funding gap for the Sudan health crisis is concerning, with only 24% received out of the total WHO ask, severely limiting the ability to address the crisis.

The high-level visit also included the inauguration of the new premises of WHO’s office in Port Sudan, expanding WHO’s ability to reach people affected by the crisis.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

By Arnaud Bouraima, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer, Webb Fontaine (https://WebbFontaine.com/). 

In the face of mounting global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and increasing focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness, sustainable trade practices and supply chains have the potential to radically transform Africa’s economic future.

From green logistics to fair trade and circular economy principles, sustainable trade practices have a significant positive impact on global and local trade. In addition to environmental benefits, they enhance market competitiveness and open access to new markets that value a commitment to sustainability.

However, the transition to eco-friendly and sustainable supply chains is reliant on several factors, not least a significant investment in the infrastructure and technology needed to streamline port and customs operations and ensure a smooth entry of goods into the country in question. An understanding of the importance of digital transformation by governments and regulatory bodies is also a key factor in adopting digital solutions over more traditional manual systems.

African countries that understand and embrace these requirements are well on their way to laying the groundwork for sustainable trade practices.

As an example, the port of Cotonou in the West African country of Benin handles an average of 80 to 90 merchant vessels monthly. According to the African Development Bank (https://apo-opa.co/3MF9Kxi), Cotonou deals with 90 percent of the country’s international trade, serving up to 100 million consumers. In 2022, the port handled 12.5 million tonnes of goods, a figure that is predicted to almost double by 2038, reaching 23 million tonnes.

In a gesture of confidence, the recent extension of an €80 million loan (https://apo-opa.co/3MF9Kxi) by the African Development Bank for significant infrastructure upgrades will expand the port’s operations even further. Yet despite the vast and complicated operations of one of Africa’s busiest ports, Benin has jumped to 66th place on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (https://LPI.WorldBank.org/), an astonishing leap of approximately 100 places in just under a decade, positioning the country as West Africa’s key trade hub.

But this wasn’t always the case. High shipping costs, low efficiency, and poor logistical facilities threatened to stifle any hopes the port had of becoming a key trade route, despite the fact that the country is a crucial transit route for West Africa, connecting millions of people in the landlocked countries of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and the northern regions of Nigeria.

Technology is revolutionising trade practices

The solution? Leveraging technology to break through the complexities, inefficiencies, and obstacles impeding effective trade, and transform Benin into an economically competitive trade hub.

This is a story that replicates itself in trade ports along Africa’s entire coastline. Operators and customs entities are constantly looking for ways in which to alleviate the backlogs and delays caused by the high volumes flowing through these trade entry points, and digitisation, along with improved physical infrastructure, is proving to be an extremely effective solution. Partnerships and collaborations with specialist service providers hold the key to success.

The Webb Fontaine and Benin story

Backtracking from the current situation, and highlighting the importance of long-term public-private collaborations in modernising and streamlining trade landscapes, Webb Fontaine started working with Benin’s Ministry of Finance and Benin Control in 2017. Implementing a suite of innovative solutions including Webb Single Window, Webb Transit Tracking, Webb Valuation, Webb Ports, and Webb Customs, we are proud to be playing a pivotal role in transforming trade in the country.

Webb Single Window has been a game changer. It forms the basis of GUCE Benin, a digital platform with over 6,500 users in the logistics chain that facilitates import, export, and transit operations, and incorporates electronic payment via Paylican, Webb Fontaine’s official payments partner. Webb Single Window has also automated the processing of key administrative operations like issuing licenses and authorisations, overseeing currency exchange operations, managing exemptions, and communicating with tax services.

In practical terms, this means streamlining the process needed to get containers out of the port. Digitising processes to create efficiencies, using new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), reduces the time spent on clearance of goods, for both customs brokers and administrators. Benin now ranks as West Africa’s top port and holds the third-highest rating in Africa behind Egypt and South Africa. Release times have been reduced by 30%, with a remarkable 50% of containers being released within only two days.

Along with operational efficiency at the ports themselves, economic growth is a key benefit. From digital skills development to higher revenues as a result of streamlined operations, technology is playing a crucial role. For example, reducing the clearance time from 47 days to only a few days allows for more cycles of importation, increasing tax revenue and creating a healthy economic cycle. This also attracts foreign direct investment, making the port more attractive for investors and traders.

However, the use of technology in port operations is just one aspect in a larger framework of sustainable trade. The resultant benefits, such as automated systems and data analytics have the potential to lead to more efficient operations, reduced emissions, and less waste, which are all key components of sustainable trade practices. For instance, quicker turnaround times not only reduce the carbon footprint of shipping and logistics operations, but they also reduce the need for extended storage, in turn decreasing energy consumption and waste.

Is Africa ready for sustainable and eco-friendly supply chains?

Despite the challenges faced by African countries, many are making great strides. Togo’s new container platform, Nigeria’s planned green port, Liberia’s green economy reforms – all are notable examples. Yet much still needs to be done to fully embrace the digital transformation journey, while at the same time addressing issues like infrastructure development.

All stakeholders have a role to play in implementing sustainable and eco-friendly trade practices and policies. African governments, for instance, can make a commitment to investing the funds and resources needed to create infrastructure that will support both trade and digital advancements, as well as support sustainability initiatives. The African Continental Free Trade Area can play a crucial role in developing a standardised approach to these issues, based on learnings from other countries on the continent.

Africa is a continent that has immense potential when it comes to creating and maintaining sustainable trade practices that will drive economic growth. The continent’s success stories demonstrate this, and serve as a call to governments, industry stakeholders, policymakers and the private sector to work together to find tangible solutions that will promote further growth and development. Webb Fontaine is already playing a crucial role in supporting Africa’s governments on their trade facilitation journeys, with specialised port technology that is securing customs revenue, mitigating trade fraud, and streamlining clearance times. In the same way, when all stakeholders collaborate and contribute to improvements in their respective areas, Africa’s economies will reap the collective rewards.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Webb Fontaine.

The leadership of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has said the 135 acres of land in Ddundu Parish, Mukono District earmarked for waste management, is currently undergoing preparatory works for the development of a waste-to-energy facility.

According to the KCCA Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka, pre-feasibility studies like technical surveys, and soil and groundwater tests to inform sizing and design of waste incineration infrastructure, have been done.

“The land is legally owned by KCCA with all necessary documentation and title deeds in place. It was acquired in 2016 at a cost of Shs5 billion after due diligence and negotiation,” said Kisaka.

She made the revelations while appearing before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), to respond to issues raised by MPs on the Kiteezi landfill slide and general waste management in Kampala and its metropolitan areas.

The Minister for KCCA and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon. Minsa Kabanda and Deputy Lord Mayor, Doreen Nyanjura, also appeared before the committee in the meeting held on Thursday, 05 September 2024.

Kisaka said the land in Ddundu was originally acquired with plans for the development of a regional waste management facility to replace the Kiteezi landfill, but only two acres have been utilised by the Ministry of Health to set up a medical waste incineration facility.

She added that the leadership and community in Mukono have not supported the intended purpose of the land.

“A significant number of opinion leaders in the area sued KCCA against progressing with its plans to address Kampala’s waste management using the site. However, continuous engagement is being done to address any concerns and ensure the community benefits from the project,” Kisaka said.

In her report on the solid waste management in Kampala, the Deputy Lord Mayor noted that KCCA has only 12 garbage trucks, which she said are not enough to collect waste from 60 per cent of Kampala’s population living in informal settlements.

“For the last one decade, not a single garbage truck has been procured save for the few trucks donated to us by the LVEMP programme. Our [KCCA] fleet has drastically dwindled from 48 trucks to 12, which are in a deplorable state,” said Nyanjura.

She highlighted the engagement with the private sector to use waste collection models that cater for people with low capacity to pay, including in areas like Kisenyi.

“However, the existing private companies that manage waste around Kampala have a low capacity to collect and transport it, and this has limited the adequate management of waste generated in the city,” Nyanjura added.

Kisaka and Nyanjura urged government to fast track the waste-to-energy plant solutions proposed for the Ddundu site, as well as the prerequisite licensing by the various government agencies.

“Building an up-to-date recycling plant will enable KCCA to move away from the outdated and unhealthy method of using dump sites,” said Nyanjura.

The committee chairperson, Hon. Medard Sseggona, queried the failure by the political and technical wings of the authority to operate in tandem, in a bid to manage the Kiteezi landfill slide.

“How can the technical team meet the Chief Executive of the country without the political team? I thought that in the face of this catastrophe, this is the time you should be working cohesively. How do you work together to solve a crisis when you are scattered?” Sseggona asked.

He tasked the KCCA leadership to present details to the committee, about the investor expected to manage the Ddundu waste and treatment and disposal site.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.