THE Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) has stressed the need for regular interface between member states, and a seamless information exchange, stating that this was probably the best mode of engendering healthy competition amongst ports in the sub region.

Rising from their five-day conference in Lagos, the 35th Council meeting stakeholders which brainstormed on the theme: ‘Impact of Port Concession on the Socio Economic Development of our Countries’, also stressed the need for increased private sector participation, describing it as a most viable means of achieving a cost efficiency at ports.

A communiqué issued on Friday, at the end of their deliberations, the participants which included the Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director and other captains of industries, lauded the various governments ports’ concession programmes, noting that from a strategic perspective, the gesture not only represented a paradigm shift but also a conformity to global standards, and which must be complimented by a strong support of increased private sector participation in the provision of port services.

The members also enjoined the Government of members States to boost member nations’ response rates to ever changing technological developments, pointing out that ports were of strategic importance in the socio-economic development of each State; just as they stressed the importance of the political will and support of the member-States’ governments to drive whatever may evolve as each ports reforms, efforts, noting that without the right political will or supports, the virile legal framework for Private Public Partnership (PPP) may indeed not thrive.