NORDEN invests in West African region

Danish shipping company NORDEN is opening an office in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, as part of the Company’s continued global expansion. The office will generate new business and focus on contributing positively to the development of the region.

“NORDEN opens offices and employs people with a long-term horizon and that is also the case for our move into West Africa. We wish to come even closer to our business partners and increase our business presence and at the same time be part of and help the region develop by investing manpower, know-how, money and time in the maritime sector in Ivory Coast and West Africa,”says CEO Jan Rindbo.

Present on all relevant continents

NORDEN has for years done business in the region and obtained a sound business platform to build from.The office becomes NORDEN’s 11th office and means the shipping company is now present on all relevant continents supporting the asset light growth of the Company.

“Being close to customers, knowing their needs and assisting in logistical optimisation is all part of NORDENs overall purpose of enabling smarter global trade. I am truly excited about having NORDEN participate at the very front line of the development of the maritime logistics and infrastructure in this region,” Jan Rindbo says.

West Africa is a promising region where NORDEN sees growing opportunities within dry cargo, and being the regional hub connecting French-speaking Africa and the home to many key institutions working across Africa, Abidjan, Ivory Coast is a natural location for NORDEN’s new office.

Building a resilient infrastructure

With astable economic growth, and the significant population growth predictions for the region, NORDEN believes the region is of particular interest. The region faces growing infrastructure challenges and in line with NORDEN’s focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 9 of resilient infrastructure, NORDEN seeks to develop industrial bulk port logistics projects in the region.

Having a local presence will help increase inbound business from the Mediterranean and Far East, support growth on day-to-day outbound activities, and provide access to attractive industrial bulk projects. The latter is linked to NORDEN wishes to take part in, and invest in, the maritime sector in Ivory Coast and West Africa in general, helping the region increase operational performance.

The office is expected to become operational during the second quarter of 2019.
Source: Norden