By Ziyah News Reporter
THE 2026 edition of the 19th Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport ( CILT ) Africa Forum is underway at Blue Waters Resort, Salima, Malawi from 22nd to 24th April and has been officially opened by Malawi’s Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango.
The forum is running under the Theme:“Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Transport and Logistics for Africa’s Future.”.
Mhango said the theme reflects Africa’s shared responsibility to strengthen its transport systems to be inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and digitally enabled.
“The government of Malawi takes cognisance of the fact that transport remains the backbone of the economic transformation. For a landlocked country such as Malawi, connectivity is essential to trade, industrialization, and regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The government of Malawi signed and ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area in twenty eighteen and twenty twenty-one, respectively,” he said.
Logistics act as the backbone of African Continental Free Trade Area, transforming policy into economic gains by facilitating efficient cross-border trade, reducing costs, and enabling value chain development, he said.
The key roles of logistics in African Continental Free Trade Area include infrastructure development through investment in roads, ports, and rail networks, a requirement to connect markets that face unique access challenges.
Reducing non-tariff barriers through efficient logistics, including harmonized policies and reduced border delays, are more critical than tariff reductions for increasing trade volume.
“Value chain integration through logistics services are crucial for developing pan-African value chains, allowing raw materials to be processed and distributed across the continent. Digital transformation through the adoption of automated systems in logistics is necessary for visibility, inventory open– optimization, and managing complex modern supply chains.”
He said the government of Malawi through the Ministry of Trade and Public Works continues to prioritise road infrastructure modernization and quality of– quality development,
railway utilization and cross-border connectivity, inland water transport development on Lake Malawi, airport infrastructure enhancement, and finally, trade facilitation reforms to improve logistics efficiency.
Mhango said sustainability and climate resilience are central to economic development and Infrastructure must be designed to withstand environmental pressures while promoting low emission transport solutions.
These developments, he said, should be inclusive to accomodate local communities, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and small scale traders who must benefit from safe, affordable, and reliable transport systems.
“Digital transformation will further enhance efficiency through electronic cargo tracking, smart border management systems, and integrated logistics platforms.”
He asked participants at the two day forum to generate practical solutions, strengthen partnerships, and mobilize investment for Africa’s transport future saying his government would fully facilitate such developments.
“On behalf of the government of Malawi, I reaffirm our commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive transport systems. Having said this, it is now my singular honor to declare the nineteenth annual Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Africa Forum officially open,” he said
CILT has a presence in more than 30 countries and offers a range of benefits and opportunities for career progression.
CILT provides internationally recognized qualifications in logistics, supply chain management and transport.
It also hosts events and publishes news related to the industry. CILT is committed to shaping the future of logistics, transport and supply chain management.