Agency Details
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Delmas Cameroon (CMA-CGM Group)
Zone des Professions Maritimes
Vallée Tokoto
B.P. 2007
Douala
Cameroon
Tel: (+237) 33428836
Fax: (+237) 33431300
E-Mail: dlo.cfandeu@african-agency.com or dlo.stiendeumonthe@african-agency.com

Click here for a list of all OTAL agency offices

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OT Africa Line Service Brochure
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For comprehensive details highlighting our service from Cameroon please see our latest service brochure.

Douala Port Information
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Port Infrastructure

Douala is situated on the southeastern shore of the Wouri River estuary, on the Atlantic coast about 130 miles (210 km) west of Yaoundé. The Wouri Bridge, 5,900 feet (1,800 m) long, joins Douala to the banana port of Bonabéri and carries both road and rail traffic to western Cameroon.

The city is connected by road to all major towns in Cameroon, has rail links to Kumba, Nkongsamba, Yaoundé, and Ngaoundéré, and is served by an international airport.

One of the major industrial centres of central Africa, Douala houses breweries, textile factories, and palm-oil, soap, and food-processing plants. It also produces building materials, metalwork, plastics, glass, paper, bicycles, and timber products. Other activities include boat and ship repairing, railway engineering, and radio assembly. Offshore reserves of natural gas had not been exploited by the mid-1990s.

Douala port is located 24km up stream on the left hand bank on the River Wouri.

Douala is mainly an export port for timber, cocoa, coffee, bananas, cotton and aluminium. Douala's deepwater port handles most of the country's overseas trade. It has special installations for handling timber products, bananas, gasoline, and bauxite, as well as fishing facilities. Imports include chemicals, fuel, cereals and building equipment.

There are 11 cargo berths in total, 9 of which are used for general cargo with 58,000m² of warehousing. There is also 380,000m² of open storage space and 8,000m² of cold storage available.

Douala also has a timber port providing 200,000m² of stacking yards.

OTAL calls at the Container Terminal ITS GIE details are as follows:

Click here to view SAGA's access and infrastructural review on Douala port.

Privatisation & Terminal Improvements

ITS have completed a number of improvements in the terminal which have increased efficiency and turn around time for OTAL vessels.

Most of the terminal had been resurfaced, either tarmac or cobbles, allowing equipment to operate efficiently. Two gantry cranes are now in place which can average 16 mph, however terminal estimated that figure will increase to up to 20 mph. There are twenty Stevdores being trained to operate the cranes, 9 now hold certificates. Shore handling equipment is in good order and has sufficient capacity to cope with volume of our vessels. Additional trailers are also being purchased.

Equipment comprises of Toplifters, Reach-stackers and Forklifts that are supplied by the stevedores. The terminal does not operate its own trailers and tugs, at present these are hired locally. Special trailers were reported to be ordered for gantry operations. This would speed up operations during discharge as aligning containers on conventional trailers is slowing operations. The storage/repair yard equipment is modern and in good working order.

Inland Trucking Services

OTAL provides customers with a trucking service, transporting cargo to, from and within Cameroon. OTAL also acts as a major handler of transit cargo for Chad.

OTAL offers through transport services using a single document, the Combined Transport Bill of Lading (CBTL). With track and trace facilities in place we are able to track exactly where your cargo is every step of the way.

For further information on OTAL's inland services from Douala please click here.

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Transport News
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US$852 Million Required To Build The Deepwater Port Of Limbe - 24/12/09
According to a feasibility study released on 22/12/09 by the Limbe Port Development Corporation [LPDC] and partners from Korea, it will cost US$852 million to build the deepwater port of Limbe, SW Cameroon. According to the study projected traffic for its launch phase in 2012 is 5,000 tons of cargo, averaging at 200,000 containers per year with the port handling 40,000 tons of cargo by 2050. The deepwater project is to cover 4 areas that of commercial and industrial activities, coastal shipping, a container terminal and the export of oil through the National Society of Refining [SONAR].

Despite the environmental and social issues raised during the presentation of the report, particularly through the expropriation of shoreline, the Cameroonian authorities have reiterated their commitment to achieve this project yet funding remains undefined. [Xinhua 24/12/09]

Kribi Sea Port Construction Project Imminent - 30/12/09
The research into the potential Kribi Deep Sea Port project is at its final phase. A plane equipped with material to collect topographic data arrived in Douala alongside South African technicians who are specialists in such data collection. The latest development is sign that the final take off of the construction of the Kribi Deep Sea Port is imminent. [CRTV 30/12/09]

US$190 Million From The Afdb To Link Up Congo And Cameroon - 28/09/09
The African Development Bank (AfDB www.afdb.org) Group approved on 25/09/09 a package worth US$190 million to link up Congo and Cameroon. This funding from the African Development Fund, the concessional window of the AfDB Group, comprises a grant of US$97 million and a loan of US$93 million. The Ketta-Djoum Road and the Brazzaville-Yaoundé Transport Corridor Facilitation Project will assist in strengthening regional integration in Central Africa. It will enable interconnecting highways linking Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and CAR.

In addition to improving the movement of people and goods between Congo and Cameroon, it will open up areas with significant economic potential in Northern Congo (agriculture, ore, timber, etc.) and in the South-eastern part of Cameroon. The 504.5-km Ketta-Djoum Road is a major link on the 1,612-km highway connecting the two capital cities of Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) and Yaoundé, (Cameroon). At completion, the project, to be implemented in two phases, will provide a completely paved corridor between Brazzaville and Yaoundé. At present no permanent road connection actually exists between the capitals of the two countries (Yaoundé and Brazzaville). Phase I: Includes, (in Congo), paving of the Ketta-Biessi section (121km) and minimal works on the Biessi-Cameroon border earth road section (195 km). In Cameroon, it involves minimal works on the Congo border-Mintom earth road section (105.5 km) and paving of the Mintom-Djoum section (83km). Phase II: Paving the remaining Biessi-Cameroon border earth road section (195km) in Congo and paving the remaining Congo border-Mintom earth road section.

Tanker Crashes Into Limbe Port - 10/08/09
A tanker has hit the quay at Limbe port drastically damaging the discharging arm for oil and gas. Operations have been affected as a result. Meanwhile Limbe port is due to close for 2-months from October to December 2009. A temporary storage ship will be installed by Société Nationale de Raffinage [SONARA] at Cap Limboh anchorage. [SAGA 10/08/09]

Traffic Via Douala - Additional Fee - 04/08/09
Please note effective 01/09/09 B/L date all CTBL traffic via Douala will attract an additional fee of EUR 69 per truck. This charge will cover a new customs process – click here for background details [French only]. A new tariff will be issued in due course.

Limbe Deep Seaport Project - 31/07/09
The General Manager of the National Ports Authority, Josue Youmba, has announced that feasibility studies for a new port complex will be through next month noting that the studies were well advanced than those at Kribi port. The complex, he said, will comprise of the SONARA terminal which handles petroleum products, a shipyard and the Nguema terminal for commerce. The projects co-ordinator, Richard Mbantapah, noted that the port will be constructed about 300 to 400 meters into the sea so as to have the necessary depth of water which is about 14 meters. The project will be realized in three phases. The first phase which will have two container terminals will end in 2015 when the first ship is expected in Limbe, the second phase will end in 2025 while the third, everything being equal, will be over in 2035. [CT 31/07/09]

Cameroon/Nigeria Sign US$155.29 Million Loan Agreement For Transnational Road - 15/05/09
Cameroon and Nigeria signed a US$155.29 million loan agreement for a multi-national highway and transport facility project between the two countries. The bilateral agreement was signed at the on-going 44th annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Dakar. The project follows the setting up of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission in 2002. The road is an integral part of the proposed Lagos-Mombassa-Trans-African Highway. A common border checkpoint will also be built. Cameroon's Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Mr Louis Motaze and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Nigeria's Alternate Governor at AfDB, Mr Stephen Orosanye, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. [TD 15/05/09]

Cameroon to Double Kribi Sea Port to Four Terminals - 12/03/09
Cameroon will double the number of terminals at the new Kribi deep-sea port project in the south of the country to four after the government adjusted its plans to meet new traffic forecasts.

Meeting in its fourth session under the chairmanship of Louis Paul Motaze, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development / Cameroon Ministre des Domaines et des Affaires Foncières [MINDAF www.mindaf.gov.cm], committee members examined and adopted the general plan for the installation of the port infrastructure for the deep water port of Kribi known as the Kribi Ports Complex. New locations have been proposed for the project requiring a shift of installations to the southern part of Kribi where the marine, topographical and environmental conditions are best to host vessels.

The harbour complex project is now to include four different terminals each with specific services and activities.

Kribi, located 300km [186 miles] south of the capital, Yaounde: fishing and leisure activities
Grand Batanga, 2km south of Kribi: tourism and industrial fishing
Mboro 3km away: industrial, commercial and naval activities
Lolabe, another 3km southwards: iron ore and mineral transportation

Under the original plans, the port would have had two terminals, at Kribi and Grand Batanga. The decision to specialise the terminals has been on the discussion table since May 2008 during the round table conference organised in Yaounde which equally provided occasion for investors to declare their intensions towards the project.

Estimated to cost over CFA 282 billion [US$544million], work on the first phase of the Kribi Ports Complex is programmed to start in December, 2009 with the first services operational by the end of 2013. The project will be financed by private-public finance partnership under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system. [Source: CT 02/03/09 / BL 03/03/09 / Lexpressplus 12/03/09]

Cameroon Custom Fines - 04/02/09
Please note there are fixed penalties applicable by the Cameroonian customs regarding manifest modifications.
These penalties are considerable and non negotiable. Please click here for more details.

Example:
Using an approximate exchange of US$1 = 485 CFA means fines can reach over US$5,000

European Union, Cameroon Sign Interim Trade Deal - 15/01/09
The EU and Cameroon have signed a "stepping stone" economic partnership agreement [EPA] trade deal on 15/01/09 pending a broader regional accord with central African states. Like similar interim deals signed with other African countries, the agreement grants Cameroon's exports duty free, quota free access to the EU market, but gives Cameroon 15-years to dismantle tariffs on 80% of its imports from the EU.

Sundance To Build Iron Ore Port In Cameroon As Part Of Multi-User Deep Water Port Project - 14/01/09
Australia-listed Sundance Resources Limited, which has iron ore assets in Cameroon, has been selected to develop a US$236 million iron ore export facility south of the coastal town of Kribi as part of a multi-user deepwater port project. Sundance's Cameroon subsidiary Cam Iron SA will develop the hub. Under the Government proposal, the new port is to be developed as a multi-user facility by some of the largest resources, logistics and construction companies in the world. The new port is expected to become a major shipping hub servicing the Mbalam Iron Ore Project [production due to start 2012 /one of the 10th largest in the world] and Belinga Project as well as other emerging industries in the region. The port is expected to service neighbouring Congo and Gabon.

Cameroon Transport Minister Gounoko Haounaye announced the decision last week following a review of proposals from a range of international developers and port operators. Cam Iron submitted its proposal to the Cameroon Government both as an independent operator and as part of a consortium comprising Rio Tinto Alcan, the Bolloré Group and the Vinci Group – all major international companies with existing operations in Cameroon. The iron ore export terminal will be built by Cam Iron as a stand-alone facility but with provision for staged development of multi-user operations by the other selected operators, allowing for sharing of common infrastructure and utilities.

Phased additional development by the other selected operators in the development of the multi-user port comprise of:
 
Cam Iron SA                      Financing, construction and operation of the iron ore terminal
Rio Tinto Alcan                  Financing, construction and operation of the aluminium terminal
Bolloré Group                    Financing, construction and operation of the container terminal
Angelkique / SCDP            Financing, construction and operation of the hydrocarbons terminal
Petredec / Camship          
Vinci / SOGEA / SATOM    Financing and construction of civil works, infrastructure and utilities
Boskalis International 
          
The iron ore terminal will receive, stockpile, reclaim and shipload high-grade DSO and concentrate products for export. The port site selected by Cam Iron allows development of an open water berth capable of handling ships of up to 250,000 DWT capacity with a berth depth of 22m.  Recent marine surveys have allowed optimisation of the port design with total marine construction costs now estimated to be in the range of US$160 million (excluding materials handling infrastructure and utilities). This is approximately US$50 million less than the cost estimate provided in the Pre-Feasibility Study.  The Cameroon Government has retained specialist international consultants to provide advice on the development process for the multi-user port. The next steps in this process will comprise:

development of the Port Master Plan to accommodate the traffic and operational requirements of each of the selected operators;
award of concession agreements;
development of technical documentation;
arranging of funding (target date being September 2009). [Source: Creamer Media / Metal Bulletin / Mineweb 13/01//09]

Cameroon BESC - New Fines - 14/01/09
Please be reminded that a Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons [BESC] / Cargo Tracking Note is required for all cargo [containerised/non-containerised] to / from or via Cameroon. This decree No 0557/MINT has been in force since 11/07/06 by the Conseil National des Chargeurs Camerounais [CNCC].

As from 01/02/09 all missing BESC will be fined as follows by the CNCC:

· Shippers will have to pay the missing BESC plus a tax of 100% of the missing BESC value.
· The ship-owner loading or discharging cargo without BESC will be fined FCFA 1 million [approx US$2,000].

Please contact CNCC direct for further details and a list of CNCC agencies offices:

Direction Générale du Conseil National des Chargeurs du Cameroun (CNCC)
Centre des Affaires Maritimes, Bonanjo
3e étage Immeuble IGH
BP 1588 Douala
Tel: [+237] 3343 67 67
Fax: [+237] 3343 70 17
Web: www.cncc-cam.org
Email: info@cncc-cam.org

For more information click here.

AfDB Lends Nigeria, Cameroon US$280 Million For Express Road - 06/12/08
The African Development Bank [AfDB www.afdb.org] has lent Nigeria and Cameroon US$280-million to finance a road project linking the two western African nations. The objective of the project is to contribute to the regional integration, increase trade and strengthen cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria and between ECOWAS and CEMAC markets. About 11 million people in both countries are expected to benefit from this project.

The present program concerns the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the Highway from Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Junction-Ikom Mfum in Nigeria to Ekok-Mamfe-Batibo in Cameroon and Transport facilitation between Enugu and Bamenda. The Program will have 4-components, namely the reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of the corridor road, ancillary works, transport and transit facilitation measures, and program management. Given its magnitude, the program is planned for implementation in 2-phases.

The first phase of the program on the Nigerian side will include the following components:
(i) the reconstruction of the Ogoja Junction-Abakaliki section [85km];
(ii) the rehabilitation/periodical maintenance of the Mfum-Ogoja-Junction section [75km];
(iii) the transport and transit facilitation measures;
(iv) ancillary works to improve the living conditions of the population;
(v) program management.

The Second Phase of the program will comprise:
(vi) the construction of two new bridges, one [100m] on the Munaya River in Cameroon and the other [230m] on the Cross River at the border between the Nigeria and Cameroon;
(vii) the construction of the Batibo-Numba section and the periodic maintenance of the Bamenda- Batibo and Bachuo Akagbé-Mamfé sections in Cameroon.

Under the second phase, the construction of a dual carriage way between Abakaliki and Enugu [80km] will be considered. [RT 06/12/08]

Cameroon Government Announce Companies To Build Grand Batanga Port - 18/09/08
The Cameroon government announced on 18/09/08 companies short listed to build a US$655-million port in Cameroon. [24 applications were received and following analysis the steering committee short listed 16 of them.] The selection process is to be completed by December and in January sign a build, operate and transfer [BOT] system of contracts is hoped to be in place. Building work is due to begin in September or October 2009.

Companies on the list include:
• Global miner Rio Tinto and Australia's Sundance Resources subsidiary CamIron both want to develop mineral projects in the country, as does American firm Hydromine.
• China Harbour Engineering Corporation
• Maersk
• Vinci

Cameroon is aiming to attract investment of US$10-billion in its bauxite, iron-ore, cobalt, uranium and nickel deposits in the next few years, and improved infrastructure, including ports, are a key part of that drive. The proposed new deep seaport at Grand Batanga near Kribi in the south of the country would be able to take much larger vessels than main port Douala. It would be linked by road and rail to major mining projects under development in Cameroon's interior.

Douala currently handles 95% of the import and export traffic from Cameroon and neighbouring landlocked Chad and CAR. The port is restricted in the size of the ships it can handle owing to its location on the sediment-filled River Wouri estuary, which demands constant dredging. [RT 18/09/08]

Sundance Resources To Build Railway - 17/06/08
Australian mining group Sundance Resources has a concession to develop iron ore reserves at Mbalam, near the border with Congo Brazzaville. These are expected to generate around 35 million tonnes of haematite each year for export to Europe, India and China. The company told investors last month that it had identified a preferred route for the 490 km standard-gauge railway which would link the mine to a proposed port at Lolabi, around 140 km south of Douala. Sundance hopes to start construction by mid-2009, with the first ore to be shipped in mid-2012. [Railway Gazette 17/06/08]

The Port of Douala’s Quest for Competitiveness - 14/06/08
The verdict is unambiguous: the operational weakness of the Port of Douala [PAD - Port Autonome de Douala], which handles 95% of Cameroon’s port traffic, hinders the country’s economic activities. The clearance of goods and delivery delays are far too long, causing disruptions in revenue collection amongst other consequences. The weak labour organization is causing delays in container release, explained a customs official who wishes to remain anonymous. In volumes, imports have increased by 30% since 2006. The number of containers rose by 9% in 2006 to reach 34,170 [the last known statistics], representing a containerized traffic of 530,192 tonnes and 570 discharged ships.

Despite the presence of about twenty operators employing about 2000 dockers, the weak handling productivity hinders the competitiveness of this regional hub. The problem is not new. During the presidential election campaign of 2004, plans were unveiled to allow Douala to compete with the other ports of the gulf of Guinea. The concessioning of the container terminal in June 2004 was expected to enhance performances. The consortium at the helm, Douala International Terminal [DIT], includes the Dutch operator AP Moller-Maersk [31%], the French
Getma [Bolloré group, 28%] and Cameroonians operators. The DIT pays an annual fee of FCFA3.1bn [€4.7m] to the PAD and has an annual turnover of FCFA22bn, charging FCFA 145,000 for each discharged 40’ container. The recently appointed Cameroonian Minister of Finance Essimi Menye has held emergency talks with all operators. New equipment should be installed before July with the aim of handling 300 containers per year, 3 times the current rhythm. Daya Mounoume, who was appointed managing director at the end of January, has for mission
to smooth the relationship between the port authority and the concessionaire. He also intends to secure the port channel through dredging to allow larger ships in the port. Boscampo, the company responsible for this is out of contract and according to sources, Bolloré will take this opportunity. But its director for Cameroon Christophe Pujalte denies this: “our group has never been responsible for dredging the channel, not yesterday, not today nor tomorrow.” [JA 14/06/08]

US$683.5 Million Kribi Deep Seaport - An Industrial Oriented Project - 01/05/08
Earmarked to be built at Grand Batanga, 10km south of Kribi, the new US$683.5 million [CFA 282 billion] ‘ Kribi Deep Seaport’ sets out to be a multifaceted economic hub. Essentially designed to serve the needs of industrial companies, notably those involved in mining, transporting and receiving heavy equipment for
mineral extraction, the port is equally expected to serve other purposes. According to the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development who presented the project in
early March to investors in Douala, the Kribi Deep seaport will harbour ships involved in the importation and exportation of containers. It will also handle iron ore in-puts and iron ore final products for exports extracted from the deposits at Mamelles situated 30km south east of Kribi and Mbalam, 600km from Kribi. The port will also serve as traffic for the importation of petroleum products.

In 2012, traffic in Kribi port is expected to hit between 2.9 and 4 million tons. This amount will increase to between 4.8 and 10.4 million tons in 2030 representing 31-35% of Cameroon’s total traffic in 2012 and 32- 45% in 2030. The Kribi Deep Seaport will during its first phase witness the creating of basic port infrastructure including a 2,800m quay in the southern and western side of the port and 11 million m3 of drainage. Four terminal points will be created. One container terminal, one petroleum products terminal by 2012 and one iron ore and one aluminium terminal to be built by 2010 and 2015 respectively. The first phase will include construction of parking lot, port buildings and terminals.

The US$683.5million [CFA 282 billion] estimates for the project will be used as follows: US$489.6 million [CFA 202 billion] for port infrastructure and terminals, US$104.2 million [CFA 43 billion] for terminal superstructures and US$89.7 million [CFA 37 billion] for equipment. The building of the Kribi Deep Seaport will be accompanied by other tributary projects. These include:

• Creation of land services and integrating them to the national and Central African road network, notably the Kribi-Ebolowa-Sangmelima-Ouesso (Congo Brazzaville) and Sangmelima-Nolakisangani (DRC)
• Creation of rail way services linked to the port
• Definition of a commercial and industrial development plan
• Construction of a thermal electric station to furnish energy to the port and to the future commercial and industrial zone.

The project will be executed based on a Public-Private sector Partnership [PPP]. The public partner will be financing the construction of the basic port infrastructure while the private sector partner will finance the superstructures and the equipment.

China Among Interested Investors For Cameroon Port - 10/05/08
Companies from China, Canada and Europe have expressed interest in investing in the building of a US$655 million multi-purpose deep seaport in south Cameroon that will serve major mineral export projects. The plan for the port to be located at Grand Batanga, 10 km [6 miles] south of Kribi, was presented to potential investors at a two-day meeting that ended on 09/05/08 in Yaounde. The projected port facility, whose depth will allow the entry of much larger ships than those currently served by Cameroon's main port of Douala, would consist of four terminals; for containers, oil products, iron ore and aluminium.

Cameroon's Economy, Planning and Regional Development Minister Louis Paul Motaze noted a Chinese company, China Harbour Engineering Co. [CHEC] www.chec.bj.cn had shown
interest in taking on the entire project. Other companies from Canada, Europe and Africa were interested in buying stakes in the port project, whose initial cost was estimated at US
$655 million [282 billion CFA francs]. Motaze also stated he was certain construction work on the first phase will start in 2010 and the first traffic will flow through the port by 2013. He added the interested investors were insisting on build, operate and transfer [BOT] arrangements for the project. They had requested more information and follow-up meetings would be held before it was decided who the final partners would be.

Douala, which handles 95% of the import and export traffic of Cameroon and neighbouring landlocked CAR and Chad, is restricted in the size of the ships it can handle because of its location on the sediment-filled River Wouri estuary. Its position demands constant dredging. The proposed new deep seaport near Kribi would be able to take much larger vessels and would be linked by road and rail to major iron ore, cobalt, nickel and bauxite mining projects under development in Cameroon's interior. This includes a proposed 490 km [300 mile] railway line between the projected port and the Mbalam iron ore project of The Cameroon Iron Ore Company [CamIron], controlled by Australia's Sundance Resources. CamIron’s general manager Roger Bogne stated his company was very keen to invest in the development of the new seaport, at least in the iron ore terminal, so as to have an export outlet for the ore it planned to deliver from Mbalam by 2011.

When completed, the projected port was also expected to serve as a major shipment point for tropical hard wood from south-eastern Cameroon, northern Gabon and Republic of Congo. [RT 10/05/08]

New Douala Links - 01/03/08
The African Development Bank [ADB] has finally agreed to fund the construction of new highways linking the CAR and Chad to the port of Douala. The ADB will provide a loan of US$76.57 million to enable the development of modern surfaced roads from Douala to N’djamena [Chad] and Bangui [CAR]. This program falls within Nepad’s framework that is aimed at creating commercially and economically viable corridors devoid of barriers and road blocks. It is expected that the roads will intersect with Cameroon’s existing rail network to allow containers to be switched from road to rail, reducing freight transit times to and from the port. All three countries involved are part of the Economic and Monetary Union of Central African States [CEMAC], which aims to harmonise trade regulations and boost intra-regional trade over the next decade. The new roads should increase demand at Douala International Container Terminal [DIT] that holds a 15 year concession at the port until 2019. [WCN March 2008]

Maritime Boundary Mapped - 01/07/08
Following the settlement of the delimitation of the maritime boundary line on 10/05/07, representatives of Cameroon and Nigeria will officially signed off the nautical map transposing the agreed maritime boundary between the two countries and review the demarcation of the 830km land boundary agreed so far. A geodetic network covering the entire 1,950km land boundary, was established earlier this year, thanks to international funding with contributions from Cameroon, Nigeria, the UK and EU. [UN, 07/03]

Cameroon National Shippers Council Reinstated - 28/03/08
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni held a working session with the Union of African Shippers Council [UCCA]. The President of UCCA, Bakayoko Dramane used the discussions to thank the government of Cameroon for reinstituting the Cameroon National Shippers Council [CNCC] and paying arrears CNCC owed UCCA. Dramane also reported on the recent forum held in Douala that revised CNCC regulations. [CT 28/03/08]

Feasibility Studies Progress For Yaounde-Douala Express Way - 17/03/08
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni met with the South African engineering team, Sizatech Consulting Engineers, who are undertaking feasibility studies on the construction of the express way linking Cameroon's political capital, Yaounde to the economic capital, Douala. A team from the Prime Minister's Office and the Department of Public Works are expected to visit South Africa to review the studies and examine the product that will be used on the road. [CT 17/03/08]

Cameroon Strikes EU Trade Deal - 12/12/07
Cameroon's parliament has authorised the president to sign an interim trade deal with the European Union, joining a growing number of poor nations inking 11th-hour accords before preferential trade terms expire. The EU is rushing to strike basic interim deals with the comparatively better off former colonies to avoid disruption to their goods exports when preferential terms expire on Dec. 31.

The Cameroon national assembly adopted a bill on 12/12/07authorising the president to sign an interim economic partnership agreement with the European Union. Opposition members of parliament had opposed the bill, introduced a few days before, saying they had not had enough time to study and modify the text. But President Paul Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) carried the vote due to its overwhelming majority. It is unclear when Biya would sign the agreement.

Like other countries, cocoa-and banana-exporting Cameroon had been under pressure to reach an interim deal to ensure its exports to the EU are not hit by increased tariffs on Jan.1. The World Trade Organisation has deemed Europe's preferential trade terms for nearly 80 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries illegal and a waiver expires on Dec. 31. The poorest countries will still qualify for preferential terms under Europe's "everything but arms" deal, but those slightly better off, including Cameroon which is the world's fourth biggest cocoa grower, will not.

Top cocoa producer Ivory Coast initialled a deal last week with Brussels [See Cote d’Ivoire section below], the first to break ranks with regional bloc ECOWAS's demand for more time, and neighbouring Ghana, the second biggest grower, is expected to reach a deal soon. [Reuters 12/12/07]

Buoys Under Maintenance - 26/11/07
Several inner buoys at Douala port have been removed for maintenance [No’s 10/1112/13/14/15/16/21/24/ 25/29/32/34/35/36/38]. All outer buoys are now back in position after also undergoing maintenance. [SAGA 26/11/07]

Transport Syndicates Call off Strike Action - 04/10/07
The secretary of State at the Ministry of Transport, Mefiro Oumarou, met with leaders of the road transport sector aimed at pre-empting a strike action set for 22/10/07. Following discussions, the parties established a permanent forum and a defined map for collaboration between the administration and trade unions. [CT 04/10/07]

Scrapping of Customs Duty Revised - 12/04/07
According to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Polycarpe Abah Abah, all products from the European Union entering CEMAC countries from January 1, 2008 will not as anticipated enter free from customs duty. A 25-year transitional period has now been muted for CEMAC to effectively prepare to scrap the customs duty. However several products from CEMAC countries will from January 2008, enter the EU duty free. [TP 12/04/07]

Customs Administration Cooperation For Competitiveness - 30/03/07
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni held a working session with the Director General of Customs of the Central and West African Region of the World Customs Organisation, during which they discussed the harmonisation of customs services, simplification of customs procedures, modernisation of customs administration, information exchange, and cooperation.

Discussions between the Customs officials and Prime Minister Inoni also focused on the new Economic Partnership Agreement which is being negotiated between the African-Caribbean countries and the European Union in relation to customs duties exemption for goods originating from the European Union. [CT 30/03/07]

Free Trade Zone - 03/03/07
A seminar was recently organized in Kribi in view of an economic partnership which is presently under negotiation between the European Union and the Cameroon government which aims at creating a free trade zone. The European Union recently offered 4 million euros which will be used in the preparation of the Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA]. The program which is expected to last two years will kick off in February. [WABA 28/01/07]

Meeting to Boost International Trade - 03/03/07
Experts and ministers in charge of industries from the six countries in the CEMAC region recently met at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel to discuss the challenges ahead and propose a strategy for boosting the economy of the sub-region. The three sectors of the economy identified as the best channel through which industrialization can pass are: agro-industry, textile and forestry. There was a general consensus to improve the quality of cotton in the CEMAC sub-region so as to better penetrate the international market.

Cameroon and China Discuss Closer Bilateral Ties - 03/03/07
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, on closer bilateral ties. During the talks, the Presidents exchanged views on the development of China-Cameroon co-operation. They also suggested more efforts be made on economic cooperation that would benefit both countries, particularly in agriculture, primary products processing, infrastructure and telecommunications.[Xinhua 01/02/07]

Cameroon National Council [CNC] - Avis aux Chargeurs, Transitaires, Consignataires et Armateurs - 30/01/07

The Managing Director of the Cameroon National Shippers’ Council (CNCC) wish to inform all stakeholders from the shipping and international trade industries, in particular shippers, forwarders, consignees and shipowners, that from 1st February 2007 the functions of representative of the CNCC for imports of all goods towards the Republic of Cameroon from the ports of Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Middle-East, responsible for the delivery of the Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons [BESC] or Electronic Cargo Tracking Note, will be held by the General Agent.

Phoenix Europe Express
28-30, Rue Léon Jouhaux
ZI de la Fosse à la Barbière
93 605 Aulnay-Sous-Bois CEDEX
Tél: 00331 48 14 34 60
Fax: 00331 48 14 34 64
E-mail: Pierchon@phoenix-europe.fr

Besides the representatives in the various ports whose list is attached, the BESC can also be obtained from its internet site: www.phoenix-europe.fr chapter BESC. The delivery of the BESC for export and BESC for regularization is still taken care of by:

La Direction Générale du CNCC
Sise, au Centre des Affaires Maritimes - Bonanjo
Tél: 00 237 343 67 67
Fax: 00 237 343 70 17
Web: www.cncc-cam.org <http://www.cncc-cam.org>
E-mail: info@cncc-cam.org <mailto:info@cncc-cam.org

The Managing Director of the CNCC wishes to remind you that BESCs whose mentions are incorrect will not be validated. Import and export shipments of any ocean freight without a BESC will cause the creation of a regularization BESC, in compliance with clause 12 of the circular 00557/MINT of 11 July 2006 regarding the institutionalisation of the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC). [30/11/06]

ASYCUDA/SYDONIA Customs System Launched In Cameroon - 30/01/07
Since the beginning of January 2007 a new automated Customs system has been launched in Douala. The Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta [ASYCUDA] / SYstème DOuaNIer Automatisé [SYDONIA] has replaced the former PAGODE system. Initial delays are being experienced within this transitional period. Goods are taking much longer to clear as often declarations have to be input into both the new and old systems. At the time of writing the DIT container park was 96% full and the port was in danger of congestion.

For more information about this system please view:
www.sydonia.org
www.cnuced.org
sydonia@cnuced.org

ASYCUDA/SYDONIA Customs System Launched In Cameroon - 11/01/07
Since the beginning of January 2007 a new automated Customs system has been launched in Douala. The Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta [ASYCUDA] / SYstème DOuaNIer Automatisé [SYDONIA] has replaced the former PAGODE system.

Please click here* for a full presentation covering the SYDONIA system or refer to www.asycuda.org.
(*Please note this is a sizeable file, please allow upto 3 minutes for download.)

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Contacts and Links
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Douala Port Authority / Port Autonome de Douala (PAD)
Centre des Affaires Maritimes
PO Box 4020 Douala
Tel: (+237) 3 420133 / 3427322
Fax: (+237) 3 426797 / 3421190

Chambre de Commerce d'Industrie et des Mines du Cameroun
Place du Government B.P. 4011,
Douala Tel: (+ 237) 3 422888

La Direction Générale du CNCC [Cameroon National Shippers’ Council] Sise au Centre des Affaires Maritimes
Bonanjo Tel: (+237) 343 67 67 Fax: (+237) 343 70 17
Web: www.cncc-cam.org
E-mail: info@cncc-cam.org
Responsible for: Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons [BESC] or Electronic Cargo Tracking Note

News Sites
Cameroon Tribune - daily in French, English www.cameroon-tribune.net
Le Messager - Douala-based French-language daily www.lemessager.net

SGS Website

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