Over the years, countries have focused on improving port performance to enable economic growth. They undertook institutional and regulatory reforms and PPP arrangements that enabled private terminal operators to invest in expanding and modernizing their facilities, improve operational practices, and employ technology solutions to monitor and control terminal activities. While ports are important, countries have come to realize that efficiency gains from improved port performance can be negated if hinterland logistics systems are inefficient and traffic conditions on port access routes are congested. An inefficient hinterland logistics system may lead carriers and shippers to seek other options even if the port is efficient. Countries and their port systems must therefore take a more holistic approach to ensuring the necessary structural and non-structural conditions are in place for economic competitiveness.
Disruptive events in recent years, from shifting trade policies and new technologies to natural disasters and a global pandemic, have created an uncertain environment, with suppliers focusing on notions of risk, agility, and resiliency and ports and logistics systems intent on accommodating these notions. As industries seek to develop alternative supply chains, even geographically disadvantaged countries can position themselves to compete by offering efficient transport logistics systems that have the effect of reducing their economic distance to markets.
Monument’s experts work with multilateral financial institutions, donor organizations, foreign ministries, regulators, port and corridor authorities, terminal operators, logistics service providers, asset owners, and investors to address the complexity of issues associated with improving freight logistics systems. We assist clients to develop and execute strategies for congestion mitigation, improve operational performance, rationalize investment decisions, enhance capacity utilization, devise strategies for improving financial performance, and design institutional and regulatory arrangements to enable freight logistics efficiency, private sector investment, and fair competition.
Monument’s expertise in ports and logistics consulting includes work in the following areas: