SOMALIA/PORTS
Somali Ports Get Tech Boost
 Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa, and great potential for
regional trade through its ports
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23 March (UNDP) - The northern Somali ports of Berbera and Bossaso are about to get a
technology boost to help them cope with growing trade, a U.N. official said Tuesday.
This week the U.N. is installing more computers and expanding computer training for
port staff, according to Edward Johns, an official with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development).
Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa, and great potential for regional trade
through its ports, but business is hampered by years of civil strife and neglect. The
ultimate goal of the UN project is to bring port authorities up to international standards
in worldwide maritime trade, says Johns.
“It’s been a long road,” John says. “You can’t just bring in
the equipment, hand people the keys, and say have a nice day. It’s a cultural change,
a management change, and you have to bring everybody up to speed,” he adds.
In Berbera, where computer training started in 1997, the UN will add ten new computers
to the vocational training center which serves not only port employees, but members of the
community looking to learn computer skills. It will then network six other computers in
the port offices.
“At the moment, these are all stand-alone computers, and what we’re trying to
do is tie them all together so the harbormaster can tap into offices like finance, traffic
and claims, customs, etc. and have up-to-date information,” Johns says.
Bossaso will also get 10 new computer stations for vocational training, and will
eventually follow the same model for port management as Berbera.
Berbera sees roughly 5 times more trade than Bossaso, and it is poised to grow quickly
as regional imports and exports increase. It is a deeper port with more quay space, more
storage space, better cargo handling equipment and a better road system – all of
which can be better managed using properly linked hardware and software.
The first batch of computers will be sent up from Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday, with the
rest of the shipment to follow Saturday and next Monday. A Kenyan firm will provide a
computer consultant to install and network the system, and provide extended support to the
port authorities, Johns says.
23/03/slg |