Global marine terminal operator DP World has formally taken over operations at the Port of Djen Djen, now DP World Djen Djen, in accordance with a 30-year operating concession signed recently.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Foreign Investment joined senior DP World management at a ceremony to mark the official handover of the terminal to the new entity, a joint venture between DP World and the Algerian port authority.
DP World Djen Djen, located 350 km east of the Algerian capital, is fundamental to the country’s long-term growth strategy. The port is the main terminus for the eastern part of the country, and will be developed as a transshipment hub for the western Mediterranean. DP World Djazair, which handles more than 60 per cent of the country’s external trade, will be developed further to serve primarily domestic needs. Currently, Djen Djen handles only bulk traffic.
The latest addition to DP World’s global terminal portfolio is expected to attract significant new investment, and create thousands of new jobs in a region with one of the youngest populations in North Africa. DP World Djen Djen will benefit immediately from the introduction of a highly experienced management team, as well as training opportunities for terminal staff.
The ceremony took place in the city of Jijel, approximately 11 km west of the terminal. Those present included Touati Yahya, the Ministry of Transport’s representative in the province of Jijel, Anil Singh, SVP and managing director for the Africa region, DP World, and Tarik El Farouki, director general of DP World Djen Djen.
Second Algerian concession
DP World Djen Djen is the second DP World concession in Algeria, the first being the Port of Algiers, now DP World Djazair, whose handover was completed on March 19 of this year. DP World Djazair employees have already completed advanced simulator instruction at DP World’s flagship terminal Jebel Ali, in Dubai, and are currently undergoing on-the-job training at DP World’s Doraleh Container Terminal, Dubai, which has been voted “Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 15 consecutive years.
In 2008, DP World handled more than 46.8 million teu across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia – an increase of 8 per cent on 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 teu over the next 10 years.
Scata honours
Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World, DP World’s holding company, has won the first-ever ‘Supply Chain and Transport Awards’ (Scata) Hall of Fame award in recognition of his “valued contribution to the growth of the industry” in the Middle East region.
Drydocks World - Dubai won ‘Best Shipyard of the Year’ award at the same event for the third successive year. Both awards were presented during a ceremony attended by more than 250 industry professionals from across the region.
Farid Mohammed Ahmed, secretary general of Dubai World, received the award on behalf of Bin Sulayem.
