The Deputy Secretary General of the Government explained to online journalists the reasons behind the dissolution of the Beninese Port Handling Company (SOBEMAP) on Friday, December 2, 2022.

The Beninese government decided at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday 30 November 2022 to create a new handling company to replace SOBEMAP. The new company will be a “mixed economy” society. The reasons behind this government option have been outlined by the government spokesperson.

According to him, this decision was taken in the face of modern challenges in the port sector, the modern infrastructures to be put in place, the massive financing to be up to standards and to support competition with “the others”. According to Wilfried Houngbédji, this is an “efficiency choice” that requires that the current system be updated; therefore, “rechemize” the SOBEMAP

For him, the advantage is that the private player that will be set up is globally renowned as a shareholder, with proven experience. It will be able to mobilize resources more easily and more quickly to build infrastructures, but also, and above all, to compete validly with competitors. This is not the case today with SOBEMAP.