Dibamba: PM lays foundation stone of PAD's Industrial Port Zone.

The envoy of the Head of State, Paul Biya, carried out the ritual, during a groundbreaking ceremony, held on the banks of the Dibamba River, Thursday. 

Several members of government, including the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe; the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof Narcisse Muelle Kombi; the Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Ivaha Dieudonne; and a cream of economic operators, amongst other personalities, lived the event. 

The project is the fruits of a partnership between the Douala Port Authority and the Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, Arise IIP, an international firm with a proven track record across Africa. 

In his address, PM Dion Ngute underscored the national importance of the project, which is estimated to cost about 230 billion FCFA.

He noted that it will, upon completion, boost economic growth, the import substation policy of the Head of State, as well as create about 15,000 jobs. 

“This project symbolises a turning point in the economic history of Cameroon,” Dion Ngute declared.

He added that it falls in line with the National Development Strategy and the vision of President Biya, to modernise the country’s port infrastructure and make it more competitive.

Dion Ngute said the Dibamba port project is a continuation of efforts which have already been made by the government, in helping PAD to acquire new equipment and improve on its existing infrastructure. 

The project, Dion Ngute said, will be a major turnaround for the country, as nine strategic sectors of activities; including agro-industry, wood transformation, mining, textiles, digital technologies, and energy, are to be developed on the site. 

Enter PAD boss 

The Director General of PAD, Cyrus Ngo'o, said the facility marks one of the most significant expansions of the Douala Port in decades.

He said the project is careflly designed to complement and decongest the current port facilities in Bonabéri, which are increasingly saturated. 

“The existing port was designed for 7.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. Today, we handle nearly 13 million tons,” Ngo'o said, adding that: “This expansion will unlock the space needed to drive Cameroon's industrial transformation”.

He said the expansion vision is in line with the instructions of the Head of State, for the port to strategically be a driver of national economic growth.

"The Port of Douala-Bonabéri has always been a hub for economic and commercial exchanges in Cameroon and the Central African sub-region,” he stated, noting that with Dibamba Industrial Port Activity Zone, ZAIPD, will further strengthen the Douala Port’s strategic role as economic growth catalyst. 

Through the Dibamba Industrial Port Activity Zone, he said PAD aims to attract local and international investment, boost processing industries, facilitate the establishment of innovative companies in growth sectors, promote the development of a stronger and more diverse local industry, capable of fulfilling the increasing demands of domestic and neighbouring markets. 

He said the facility will in the global context characterised by rapid economic changes, represent a significant opportunity to establish Cameroon as a hub for African trade. 

With the initiative, he said PAD reaffirms its commitment to supporting the country’s economic development while meeting the expectations of its partners and future generations.

"By pooling our efforts, focusing on innovation and strengthening our partnerships, we will succeed in making the ZAIPD a model of success for the whole of Central Africa. The growth dynamic that we are launching with determination will make the Port of Douala-Bonabéri a key actor in the sustainable economic development of Cameroon," the Ngo’o stated.

Public-Private Partnership at the core

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Arise IIP, Gagan Gupta, reaffirmed their commitment to see the project go through smoothly. 

He said the economic zone will set new benchmarks for responsible timber processing and industrialisation and marks a new era for development in Cameroon. 

The convention signed with PAD, Gupta said, represents a shared vision and long-term public-private commitment to accelerating industrial growth, logistics transformation, and result integration. 

Construction, additional dev’t projects in the pipeline

The facility, officials said, will be constructed in two phases. The first phase will include the development of logistics zone over a 24-month period while the second will tackle the construction of the industrial facilities, expected to be completed within 36 months. 

PAD officials expressed confidence that the project will serve as a model for future port and industrial expansions across Cameroon, including sites in Kribi, Limbe, and Garoua. 

Beyond the port zone, several other major projects are on the horizon for the region. The Prime Minister noted two new cement production plants in the town of Edea and a third in Dibamba itself and hydroelectric infrastructure development to address energy challenges among many others. 

Speaking earlier, the Mayor of Dibamba expressed gratitude to the Head of State for the project, which he said will not only transform the municipality but the entire Sanaga Maritime Division.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3514 of Friday July 25, 2025