African Ports Conference (COPAF 2026): the Director General of CRF PERFECTION on a working visit to Casablanca

As part of the preparations for the African Ports Conference (COPAF 2026), the Director General of the firm CRF PERFECTION, Dr William ODAH, made a working visit to Casablanca, in the Kingdom of Morocco, where he was received on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at the community hall of the Port of Casablanca by a team from the National Ports Agency (ANP).

The Moroccan delegation was made up of Mr Abdellatif LHOUAOUI, Director of Communication and Institutional Relations, Mr Abdelaziz FROUNI, Head of the Support Department, and Mr Ait Ali ABDERRAHIM, Head of the Infrastructure Department.

This meeting is part of the preparation for the next edition of the African Ports Conference, which will be held from 19 to 21 October 2026 in Casablanca, under the theme “Smart African Port: AI and Cybersecurity for Performance”.

A meeting devoted to the preparations for COPAF

The discussions focused mainly on the practical arrangements for organising the conference, as well as on the mobilisation of ANP representatives and of the member ports of UAPNA.

This meeting follows on from the discussions begun around COPAF between the firm CRF PERFECTION, organiser of the conference, the Association of Ports Management for West and Central Africa (AGPAOC) and the various Moroccan port stakeholders.

During this working session, the Director General of CRF PERFECTION presented the ambitions of this edition of COPAF, its positioning and the main components of the programme.

The discussions also made it possible to review the various arrangements needed to welcome participants and ensure the smooth running of the three days of the conference.

A meeting held in the spirit of port cooperation

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the various prospects for collaboration around this initiative dedicated to the transformation and performance of African ports.

This meeting also made it possible to address the conditions for the participation of Moroccan and African port stakeholders in this important gathering, as well as the various possibilities for strengthening exchanges between the institutions and organisations committed to the development of the African port sector.

The discussions also covered the conference programme, in particular the desire to strengthen its practical dimension and to encourage participants’ immersion in the Moroccan port environment.

A third day devoted entirely to the Port of Casablanca

One of the main decisions to come out of this meeting concerns the rearrangement of the conference programme.

At the request of the Moroccan side, the third day of COPAF will be devoted entirely to a visit of the infrastructure and port facilities of the Port of Casablanca.

This immersion will allow participants to discover, on the ground, certain solutions and practices related to the digitalisation, innovation and transformation of port operations.

This choice reinforces the practical approach of COPAF, which is not meant to be only a space for conferences and debates, but also a setting that allows participants to see, understand and share concrete experiences.

An African momentum around the Smart Port

COPAF 2026 thus intends to bring together in Casablanca decision-makers, port authorities, maritime administrations, logistics operators, experts and technology players around the major transformations shaping the African port sector today.

Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the digitalisation of operations, data governance and innovation are all levers that will be at the heart of the discussions.

Through this edition, COPAF aims to encourage the sharing of experience, the networking of stakeholders and the emergence of new collaborations between African ports.

An important step in the preparation of COPAF 2026

This working mission to Casablanca is an important step in the preparation process of COPAF 2026. It also reflects the firm CRF PERFECTION’s wish to build this gathering with the institutions and stakeholders directly concerned by the future of the African port sector.

Preparatory work now continues with the finalisation of the technical, logistical and scientific arrangements, as well as the mobilisation of the various participants and speakers expected in Casablanca.

See you on 19, 20 and 21 October 2026 in Casablanca for three days devoted to the future of the African Smart Port.