"A Facilitator and an Active Contributor to Africa's Growth": MSC at the Africa CEO Forum

Left to right : Guillaume Dalais, Group Chief Executive, CIEL Group; Nicolas Sartini, Senior Vice President, Business Development, MSC.

The recently concluded Africa CEO Forum 2026 provided an important platform for dialogue on the future of trade, industrialisation and infrastructure development across the continent, with senior leaders from business, government and investment communities gathering to discuss Africa’s evolving role in the global economy.

Speaking during the panel session titled “Open for Business — or Open Season? Africa, Asian Overcapacity and the Reconfiguration of Global Trade,” Nicolas Sartini, Senior Vice President, Business Development, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company joined panellists in examining how Africa can position itself more strategically within changing global supply chains and trade flows.

The other panellists included Guillaume Dalais, Group Chief Executive, CIEL Group; Martijn van Dongen, Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Development, APM Terminals; and Alexia Latortue, Head of Secretariat, Future of Development Cooperation Coalition. Discussions at the panel underscored the importance of collaborative approaches between international and African stakeholders to build more resilient, sustainable and competitive logistics ecosystems.

In his contribution, Nicolas Sartini highlighted MSC’s long-term commitment to Africa’s economic development through investments in port infrastructure, logistics capabilities and industrial development support across the continent. He emphasised that the company goes beyond being a maritime carrier, acting as a true trade facilitator by supporting its customers and partners at every stage of the supply chain. “We see ourselves both as a facilitator and as an active contributor to Africa’s economic development. Our role is to connect markets, streamline trade flows and create the conditions for sustainable growth,” he explained. Through an extensive network of maritime services and integrated logistics solutions, MSC connects African economies to major global markets while strengthening intra-African trade, thereby supporting the growth of exchanges and creating economic opportunities across the continent.

Beyond this facilitator role, Nicolas Sartini also highlighted MSC’s long-term commitment as an investor and development partner in Africa. “We are making sustained investments in port infrastructure, inland logistics solutions and industrial development zones, because we strongly believe in the continent’s potential and the importance of supporting its industrialisation,” he added. MSC continues to invest in strategic infrastructure and integrated solutions, helping to improve the fluidity of trade and support the development of local value chains. By developing solutions tailored to the specific needs of African markets, MSC actively contributes to the continent’s economic transformation and its integration into global trade.

Contributing to the conversation, other panellists agreed that while global trade flows are being reshaped by geopolitical tensions, supply chain diversification and shifting manufacturing bases, this presents a real opportunity for Africa to deepen industrialisation, strengthen regional value chains and attract investment. A recurring theme throughout the session was the importance of predictability, efficient logistics, infrastructure, energy reliability and public-private collaboration in making African industries globally competitive. Panellists also highlighted the need for stronger intra-African integration, coordinated industrial policies, and trade systems that enable the continent to move beyond commodity exports toward higher-value manufacturing and processing.

MSC’s participation at the forum provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with business leaders, investors and government representatives from across Africa on the continent’s trade and infrastructure priorities. Through its long-term partnerships and continued investments in infrastructure, logistics and integrated solutions, MSC remains focused on supporting Africa’s trade connectivity and economic growth. The company is already looking ahead to the 2027 edition as a new opportunity to continue these conversations and further strengthen its commitment to Africa.

For more information, please visit the Africa CEO Forum website.