On the occasion of World Maritime Day, celebrated on 24 September, Financial Afrik spoke with Sarah Ndaw, Vice President of Sales at Webb Fontaine. She discusses the transformations currently reshaping Africa’s maritime sector, the challenges of improving the flow of goods through ports, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in building the ports of tomorrow.
Sarah Ndaw, Vice President of Sales
FA: What are the main obstacles to the efficiency and competitiveness of African ports today?
SN: African ports play an essential role in the continent's trade and economic development, but their performance can still be constrained by several factors: fragmented processes, multiple stakeholders, lengthy processing times, high logistics costs, and limited visibility over cargo flows. In some environments, digitalisation also remains partial, with systems that are not sufficiently interconnected.
These challenges are therefore not only related to physical infrastructure. They also concern the organisation of port processes, the circulation of information, and coordination among the different stakeholders across the logistics chain.
The objective is to make the port passage more fluid, predictable, and transparent. This is critical to reducing the cost of trade, improving the attractiveness of logistics corridors, and strengthening the competitiveness of African economies.
FA: What role can AI play in transforming port operations?
SN: Ports today generate a considerable amount of data related to vessels, cargo, operations, turnaround times and available resources. The real value lies in the ability to use this information intelligently.
By analysing historical and operational data, artificial intelligence can help forecast volumes, identify periods of congestion, detect certain anomalies more quickly, and optimise the use of resources.
We are gradually moving from a model in which action is taken only after a problem occurs to one where situations can be anticipated and decisions made more quickly. For port authorities, this predictive capability can improve planning and make better use of existing infrastructure.
FA: What are the priorities for building sustainable, future-ready African ports?
SN: The priority is not to multiply technologies, but to build a coherent transformation. A port does not become smart simply because it uses several digital tools. These tools need to be integrated within a common architecture and aligned with clearly defined operational objectives.
This means simplifying processes, ensuring system interoperability, improving data quality, and investing in local skills. Technology cannot deliver sustainable results without human and institutional ownership.
A port becomes truly smart when stakeholders, processes, systems and data work together around a shared vision of performance.
FA: How can innovation, cybersecurity and data governance be effectively balanced?
SN: As port operations become increasingly digital, data becomes a strategic asset. It is essential to the functioning of systems, decision-making, and the development of artificial intelligence applications.
Cybersecurity must be built into systems from the outset, with mechanisms to protect information, control access, ensure traceability, and maintain operational continuity. Data governance must also clearly define the rules governing how data is generated, accessed, shared, and used.
FA: What is Webb Fontaine’s vision for the future of African ports?
SN: At Webb Fontaine, our ambition is to support African ports in moving towards more integrated, intelligent and efficient trade ecosystems, where technology and data help streamline trade flows, strengthen transparency, and improve decision-making.
Artificial intelligence represents the next stage in this evolution. Beyond predictive analytics, we are gradually entering the era of agentic AI: systems capable not only of analysing information, but also of interacting with experts, adapting in real time, and providing greater support in the execution of processes.
The objective is not to replace human expertise, but to equip administrations and operators with tools that help them make better use of information, accelerate certain decisions, and focus human intervention where it adds the greatest value.
FA: What lessons can African countries draw from Webb Fontaine’s experience?
SN: A successful digital transformation is first and foremost a transformation project before it is an IT project. Technology is an enabler, but it must serve clearly defined processes, operational needs, and a shared vision among the different stakeholders.
It is essential to understand local realities, simplify processes before digitising them, involve both public administrations and the private sector, and support change throughout the transformation. User adoption is just as important as the quality of the technology itself.
FA: What role do women play in the transformation of the port sector?
SN: Digital transformation is creating new opportunities to strengthen women’s participation in technical, strategic and decision-making roles across the maritime sector.
This requires training, mentoring and the sharing of experience, as well as greater representation of women in leadership positions and decision-making bodies. Women should be fully involved in shaping and guiding the transformations currently underway.
This commitment is also reflected at Webb Fontaine, a member of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), through its engagement with PMAWCA’s Network of Women Professionals in Port and Maritime Professions.
For Webb Fontaine, technological transformation and human capital development must advance together to build a more inclusive, innovative and future-ready African port sector.
Published on Financial Afrik on September 24, 2026. Original interview in French.
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About Webb Fontaine
Established in 2002 and headquartered in Dubai, UAE, Webb Fontaine is a leading technology company specialising in Artificial Intelligence-driven solutions for global trade. With offices spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, the company leverages its extensive expertise to provide governments and communities with innovative solutions that streamline trade processes and enhance efficiency.
Webb Fontaine is renowned for its pioneering technologies that help reduce trade fraud, improve Customs revenue, and expedite clearance times, supporting smoother and more profitable trading ecosystems. The company prides itself on a diverse workforce of over 700 professionals from 41 nationalities, emphasising a culture of excellence, innovation, and integrity.
The firm’s commitment to research and development is unmatched, owning the largest R&D centres in the trade sector, which are pivotal in advancing trade technology and practices. Webb Fontaine’s accolades include numerous international awards and certifications, underscoring its dedication to quality and leadership in trade facilitation.
