Suez Canal Cooperation and Dialogue Council
Purpose: An African Canal for African Trade
The Suez Canal Cooperation and Dialogue Council brings together members from business, government and civil society who rely on this African waterway between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. An African canal should serve African trade, with fair, predictable transit costs and services. We respect the authority of the canal’s operator and the coastal state. The Council advises, convenes and advocates. It does not manage the canal.
Our Vision
Fair Transit, Resilient Routes
To see the canal serve African trade well: fair, predictable costs and services, and quick recovery when a transit is blocked or delayed.
Our Mission
Predictable, Fair and Resilient
- Advocate Fair Terms: Press for clear, predictable transit costs and services for African shippers.
- Build Resilience: Plan with ports and shippers for blockages and delays, so cargo and prices recover faster.
- Grow Route Industry: Support African ports, logistics, ship repair and processing along the route.
- Support Dialogue: Encourage calm talks when needed, and refer disputes to recognised legal bodies.
Subject Matter Expert Committee: Canal and Corridor Specialists
The Suez Canal Expert Committee includes:
- Shipping Economists who study transit costs and routes.
- Port and Logistics Specialists from African ports on both seas.
- Industrial Planners in zones, processing and ship repair.
- Trade Professionals in Mediterranean and Red Sea commerce.
- Policy Advisors on corridor development. Nominations are invited.
Engagement with Authorities: Respect and Cooperation
Canal Operator and Coastal State:
- Engage the canal operator and the coastal state with respect, sharing African shippers’ needs. We take no side and manage nothing.
Shipping and Maritime Bodies:
- Bring African evidence to the International Maritime Organization and industry bodies. We are not affiliated with, a member of or endorsed by any of them.
African and Global Partners:
- Work with the AfCFTA Secretariat and regional economic communities on corridor planning.
- Ask the EU, G7 and other major economies for fair finance for African ports and processing.
Council Convener: Linking Two Seas
The Convener of the Council will:
- Lead the Council’s work on transit fairness and resilience. Appointments will be announced.
- Carry African shippers’ views to the operator and partners.
- Refer disputes needing a ruling to recognised bodies, such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Why this Council matters
- For Shippers: A clear voice on cost, service and delay.
- For Port Communities: More African port, repair and logistics jobs along the route.
- For African Industry: Africa also owes itself efficient ports and reliable delivery.
Join the Suez Council
Help make this African waterway work harder for African trade. The Council is being established ahead of the Summit in January 2027. Nominations are invited.
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The Make In Africa Global Summit (MIAGS) is a global platform connecting leaders, businesses, investors, institutions and policymakers shaping the next era of economic growth across the Global South and Africa.
MIAGS advances South–South cooperation, trade, investment, industrialization, technology, infrastructure and economic resilience, creating platforms for dialogue, strategic partnerships and cross-border opportunities.
Our mission is to strengthen the Global South and Africa’s role in the global economy by connecting capital with opportunity, innovation with markets and economic priorities with action—while fostering a more connected, productive and influential economic future.