MARITIME TRANSPORT : CMA‑CGM Establishes Its First African Regional Office in Abidjan
La voix des entreprises 
(LVDE) – French shipping giant CMA CGM has announced a strategic reorganization of its African operations with the inauguration of its first regional office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This move aims to bring its operational team closer to Sub-Saharan African markets, driven by growing trade flows along maritime routes linking Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire, is increasingly positioning itself as a logistics hub for the continent. CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest players in maritime transport, logistics, and air freight, revealed the transfer of its Africa regional office from Marseille to the Ivorian city. Officialized in early February 2026, the relocation responds to sustained growth in commercial flows to West and Central Africa, the company said in a statement.
The regional office is more than a symbolic presence. It will now centralize key functions coordinating African operations, including sales teams, customer service, and oversight of maritime routes across the continent. Leadership of the new office has been entrusted to Adeline Gabillaud, who will work to strengthen engagement with regional clients and partners.
Abidjan’s emergence as a regional base comes amid a highly favorable context for trade with Africa. In 2025, the East Asia–West Africa trade corridor saw a notable increase in volumes, growing by approximately 30% compared to the previous year, according to sectoral data. This increasingly busy corridor connects key markets such as China, Singapore, and Dubai with major regional ports, including Tema in Ghana, Lagos in Nigeria, and now Abidjan through direct maritime services.
Establishing a regional office in Abidjan enables CMA CGM to optimize its operations in Africa, reduce response times for clients, and enhance adaptability to local market specifics. Operating in over 420 ports worldwide and across multiple logistics segments, the company aims to improve the efficiency of its maritime and inland links in a high-growth region.
Abidjan was chosen strategically. The city already serves as a hub for many international companies, attracted by its geographic location and strong connections to the hinterland, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. For intra-African trade actors, CMA CGM’s increased presence offers an opportunity to accelerate regional economic integration and improve supply chain fluidity.
CMA CGM executives also highlight that the office will facilitate tailored services for African SMEs, which often face logistical challenges and limited access to efficient transport solutions. This aligns with a broader trend in the sector, where international shipping and logistics companies are repositioning their infrastructure to meet growing demand and evolving trade routes between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
As Côte d’Ivoire continues to invest in its port and logistics infrastructure to attract investors, this announcement could further boost maritime traffic and reinforce Abidjan’s role as a key hub for shipping and trade in Francophone Africa.
Esther Grace
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