UAFL Express docks at Toamasina port. A new shipping company has entered Toamasina port. The vessel UAFL Express docked there yesterday. This arrival marks the opening of a new maritime connection for the country's main port, coming at a strategic moment as the port pursues its vast expansion and modernization program.

Over 25 years of experience
This entry also demonstrates Madagascar's capacity to welcome major names in global maritime transport. Based in Dubai, UAFL Express boasts over 25 years of experience in regional maritime transport. Founded in 2000 as a feeder service operator in Africa, UAFL has progressively developed a network connecting East Africa and Indian Ocean islands to major markets in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Europe, and Southern Africa. The company operates services to ports including Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, Nhava Sheva and Mundra in India, Mombasa in Kenya, Nacala and Pemba in Mozambique, Port-Louis in Mauritius, Longoni in Mayotte, Port-Réunion, Port-Victoria in Seychelles, and Durban in South Africa. This presence in the Indian Ocean is precisely one of UAFL's distinguishing features. Unlike major global shipping lines serving numerous regions, the company has developed expertise particularly focused on African and island markets in the Indian Ocean.

Additional opportunities
For Madagascar, this new connection opens the way to additional service possibilities. Toamasina's integration into UAFL's network can notably facilitate exchanges with Indian Ocean maritime platforms and beyond. It represents greater integration with Indian Ocean, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets. For both importers and exporters, the multiplication of maritime transport options can help diversify routes and reduce dependence on a limited number of services. The stakes are also significant for Malagasy exports. Better connectivity with regional ports can facilitate the shipment of products destined for foreign markets, while importers potentially have new possibilities for bringing in goods, equipment, and inputs necessary for economic activity. In short, for Toamasina port, which is gradually entering a new phase of development, the arrival of an operator specialized in Indian Ocean trade strengthens the international vocation of Madagascar's main maritime gateway.