Unreliability of energy supply, skills shortages, trade barriers and gaps in crucial infrastructure were among the challenges identified at a recent conference in Cape Town of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) Africa.
The conference ended with a call to African policy leaders to support robust growth in the cold chain.
Cold chain progress is vital for Africa’s food security, said GCCA director Paul Matthew, a former CEO of AMIE, the South African association of meat importers and exporters.
In a statement published by Freight News, Matthew said temperature-controlled logistics would play a key role in the success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Collaboration was needed between governments, development bodies and businesses operating temperature-controlled storage and distribution, Matthew said.
“One such policy is to facilitate partnerships that will encourage investment in logistics infrastructure, especially logistics hubs and corridors in key locations across the continent.
“It is also crucial that governments recognise cold chain as critical infrastructure that must be prioritised during energy shortages, and remove barriers to investment in energy generation.
“Other important policies that we are asking governments to deliver alongside our industry are investing in cold chain infrastructure, from reefer plug-in points to warehouse construction, and transportation hubs across Africa’s port network,” Matthew said.
