CPCS Transcom Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario

www.cpcstrans.com

CPCS Transcom Ltd. specializes in the restructuring and privatization of roads, railways and ports, particularly in Africa. Company president Peter Kieran joined the Canada 2002 Trade Mission to Africa to further develop relationships with transportation organizations in Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. "We are committed to fostering more dynamic infrastructure throughout the continent," says Kieran.

During the mission, CPCS signed a memorandum of understanding in Nigeria with Magnartis Finance and Investment Ltd. to cooperate in the development and execution of projects facilitating private investment in the transport sector. The agreement is valued at $5 million over three years, of which $3 million is Canadian content.

The Ottawa-based firm recently won a high-profile contract in South Africa to develop a strategy for improving the efficiency of the five major ports of Durban, Richard's Bay, East London, Mossel Bay and Cape Town by expanding private-sector participation. This project is financed by Britain's Department for International Development and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Another action plan was recently developed by CPCS to revitalize the operations and management of Nigeria Railways Corporation through the introduction of a public-private partnership. Further west, the company is providing lead technical and financial advisory services to assist the government of Ghana in the selection of a concessionaire for Ghana Railway Company Limited through an international tender to be issued in 2003. "We are pleased to participate in this important project because it is an integral part of the government's goal of making Ghana a trade and investment gateway into the Western African sub-region," says Kieran.

CPCS is also helping Mali and Senegal reshape the national railway of each country into a commercially viable transnational enterprise. In 1999, the World Bank presented its President's Award for Excellence to the company for its participation in this project.

11/2002