President of Senegal visits Jebel Ali port

The President of Senegal, Makky Sall, yesterday visited DP World's flagship facility in Jebel Ali where he was received by DP World Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. DP World has operated DP World Dakar since 2008, and has invested in building new capacity at the facility, doubling capacity in 2011 to over 600,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) and making DP World Dakar West Africa's largest and most modern container terminal. The Senegalese Head of State was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Mankeur Ndiaye, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Diene Farba Sarr, Minister of Investments and Partnership. He held talks with Mr Bin Sulayem and senior DP World officials including Vice Chairman Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Middle East and Africa Region Suhail Albanna, and Senior Vice President and Managing Director of UAE Region Mohammed Al Muallem. President Sall was briefed on the efficiencies that have made Jebel Ali port a major contributor to the UAE's expanding economy and how DP World uses it as a model to develop ports and marine terminals across its global portfolio, including DP World Dakar. The visiting dignitaries were briefed about the sophisticated technology and innovation that has driven the port's operational efficiencies and were briefed on its major expansion projects, including the ongoing development of Terminal 3 that will add a further 4 million TEU bringing the port's capacity to 19 million TEU this year. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, said:"We are honoured to welcome Makky Sall, the President of Senegal, to our flagship facility. Jebel Ali Port grew and expanded over the years as a gateway to the whole region leveraging its geographic location. We believe DP World Dakar is similarly strategically positioned for west Africa, being both a gateway to the region and a major contributor to Senegal's expanding economy, supporting its future long term development. We thank His Excellency President Sall and the Government of Senegal for their support and cooperation." DP World Dakar offers year-round direct access with no tidal restrictions, window berthing and 24/7 ship and yard operations. The terminal is the favoured first-port of call for vessels southbound from Europe. Good road network connections offer swift transit times for cargo bound for Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gambia. With its onsite rail terminal, Dakar Port is the historic gateway to Bamako, Mali. DP World Dakar has created more than 200 jobs for local Senegalese people. Under the company's management, specialised training has been given to terminal employees to bring operational efficiencies in line with DP World's global standards.