@ Hassan DAKHLALLAH at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as part of PORTEO Group’s participation in the Spring Meetings organized by the IMF and the World Bank in Washington.
PORTEO Group reaffirmed its role as a major player in Africa’s development during the recent high-level meetings held in Washington in April 2025. This participation reflects an ambitious vision: to establish the company as a cornerstone of tomorrow’s Africa—capable of attracting world-class international partnerships while championing a sovereign approach to African development.
A Notable Presence on the Global Stage
The PORTEO delegation, led by Founder and Executive Chairman Hassan DAKHLALLAH, drew strong attention from international institutions, investors, and U.S. authorities. The group presented an impressive track record: over 3,000 kilometers of roads delivered, 10,000 jobs created, and active operations in six African countries.
“Building roads, data centers, and industrial ecosystems is not just about infrastructure—it’s about sovereignty, independence, and pride for our continent,” declared Hassan DAKHLALLAH during the meetings.
Florizelle Liser, President of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), formally acknowledged the value PORTEO brings to African ecosystems. This recognition has paved the way for advanced discussions around PORTEO’s involvement in CCA initiatives and access to new international matchmaking platforms.
An Integrated Vision for African Development
PORTEO stands out for its full command of the infrastructure value chain, ensuring quality, speed, and autonomy in project execution. This comprehensive approach was particularly well received during the meetings in Washington.
Antoine SARKIS, Director of the Group’s Industrial Division, emphasized this vision:
“We have always believed that Africa’s future is not just about roads or buildings, but about mastering the entire industrial value chain. Our diversification into agro-industry and mining reflects this conviction: to build self-sufficient ecosystems, generate local value, and secure our economic sovereignty.”
With an industrial project portfolio exceeding $500 million, PORTEO positions itself as an “investment-ready” player—fully capable of absorbing substantial capital while ensuring lasting local impact.
The Strategic Alliance Between Physical and Digital Infrastructure
One of the key messages conveyed by PORTEO during these meetings was its dual vision for African infrastructure—both physical and digital. The sovereign data center project in Gabon, developed in partnership with Cybastion, perfectly embodies this approach.
Malick NDIAYE, CEO of the group, explained:
“We believe Africa needs more than just funding. What we’re looking for are partners who can deliver a comprehensive package: structured financing, skills transfer, technological support, and strong local integration.”
This vision resonated strongly with representatives from the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Commerce—most notably Ambassador Troy Fitrell and Thomas Bruns—who emphasized the importance of innovative and resilient partnerships in driving Africa’s digital transformation.
A Business Model That Combines Impact and Performance
PORTEO also highlighted its ability to balance societal impact with economic viability—an essential formula to attract international investors.
Fadel KANE, the Group’s Infrastructure Financial Advisor, summed up this approach:
“We combine two fundamental imperatives: delivering transformative projects for Africa—projects that foster autonomy and sovereignty—while ensuring a disciplined focus on return on investment (ROI) for our financial partners.”
This dual commitment struck a chord with the investors in attendance, many of whom expressed strong interest in PORTEO’s model—one that aligns with ESG standards while maintaining robust financial performance.
Building on this success, PORTEO intends to capitalize on this momentum to advance several strategic initiatives in the coming months.
- Formalization of technical partnerships initiated during the Spring Meetings
- Acceleration of financial structuring for data center projects in Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire
- Establishment of a formal relationship with the Corporate Council on Africa
- Strengthening the Group’s presence and engagement in the United States
The 2025 Spring Meetings mark a decisive milestone in PORTEO Group’s international development, firmly establishing the company as a leading partner in building a sovereign, sustainable, and connected Africa.
In doing so, PORTEO reaffirms its mission: to build Africa’s future—one project at a time.
