Fernando Dias, Chairman of Porto of Soyo – «The Port of Soyo plays a crucial complementary role within the national port network.»

Strategically located at the mouth of the Congo River, the Port of Soyo has been consolidating its role within the national logistics system, establishing itself as a key infrastructure for connecting Angola to Central Africa. Fernando Dias, chairman of the Port of Soyo, speaks to Villas&Golfe Angola about how the port has evolved, investments in modernisation, and the impact of its growth on stimulating regional trade, industry and local communities. 

The Port of Soyo was originally established with a clear focus on the oil sector. How is it now repositioning itself as a more diversified logistics hub that is better integrated into the national and regional economy? 
The Port of Soyo plays a crucial complementary role within the national port network. The port is located in a strategic geographical position, close to Angola’s most productive oil blocks and to the Zaire Industrial Hub, and has therefore made a name for itself as a centre of excellence for the oil and petrochemical industries. 

Given its strategic location, close to the DRC and Cabinda, what role can the Port of Soyo play in stimulating regional trade and establishing Angola as a logistics hub in Central Africa? 
Given its strategic location at the mouth of the Congo River, the port benefits from direct access to river routes that penetrate the African continent, enabling intense trade flows with the Angolan province of Cabinda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other neighbouring countries, shipping consumer goods, industrial equipment and agricultural products that sustain local economies. Effectively functioning as an essential gateway for trade with the DRC and neighbouring countries, it facilitates regional economic integration. 

Under your leadership, what are the main priorities for modernising the port, both in terms of technology and operations, and making it more competitive in light of global logistics challenges? 
Among the challenges, we should mention ongoing staff training, improvements to public port areas, regarding the need to build new terminals, the maintenance and expansion of existing infrastructure, the modernisation of cargo handling systems, the implementation of digital technologies for port management, safety and the environment, as well as the improvement of land connections with surrounding industrial areas, in order to make the Port of Soyo more competitive. 

«The growth of the port will enable greater capacity for direct investment in the community […]»

From your perspective, what direct impact could the growth of the Port of Soyo have on the real economy, specifically in terms of job creation, industrial development and the improvement of social conditions in local communities? 
The Port of Soyo is the key infrastructure that enables the viability of the Zaire Industrial Complex. The expansion of port activity, combined with the successful commissioning of adjacent industrial projects, are the main drivers behind job creation in the region. The growth of the port will enable greater capacity for direct investment in the community, stimulating consumption and growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and improving people’s living conditions. 

Text: Editorial team 
Photos: Edson Azevedo