DP World opens Dakar terminal after expansion

West Africa's largest container terminal has been officially opened following a massive expansion and upgrade by Dubai-based operator DP World. Terminal à Conteneur in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, has been inaugurated following an expansion which sees its capacity more than double to more than 600,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units). Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman, DP World, said: "The expansion of the terminal and the upgrading of the facilities and equipment makes DP World Dakar the most modern and efficient terminal in western Africa." Mohammed Sharaf, CEO, DP World, added: "As Africa's favoured first port of call for vessels south-bound from Europe, DP World Dakar occupies an important place in our global portfolio. "We believe the successful completion of the development at the Autonomous Port of Dakar will ably meet our customers' needs in this fast developing region." Since winning the concession in 2007, DP World has seen an increase of around a third in volumes through the port, with the resultant benefits for the trade and Senegal's economy. DP World Dakar said it has also created more than 200 jobs for local Senegalese people.