Transport sector: Minister, United Arab Emirates delegation discuss investment opportunities.

The discussions aimed at exploring investment opportunities in the country’s transport sector. The discussions took place during an audience granted to the Emirati delegation. It was held Friday, January 16, in Yaounde. The visiting delegation comprised representatives of major UAE-based companies, including Etihad Railways, Emirates Airlines, Abu Dhabi Ports, and the National Pulse Group. 

Their mission to Cameroon, according to them, was to assess the potential for strategic investments in key transport subsectors, as the country continues to position itself as a logistics and mobility hub in Central Africa.

The Minister of Transport was accompanied by a technical team made up of the Minister Delegate, the Inspector General and the Technical Adviser No.1.

Also present, were officials from the technical departments of the Ministry of Transport including the Director of Civil Aviation, DAC; the Director of Maritime Affairs and Waterways, DAMVN; the Director of Rail Transport, DTF and the Head of the Planning, Programming and Cooperation Division, DEPPCO.

Discussions focused on the presentation of ambitious development projects with high economic impact, particularly in the aviation, maritime, and rail sectors.  The areas have been identified by the government as priority drivers for economic growth, regional integration, and improved connectivity. 

The exchanges allowed both parties to identify areas of convergence between the country’s strategic infrastructure objectives and the technical expertise and financial capacity of Emirati investors.

According to officials present, the meeting also served as a platform to outline Cameroon’s regulatory framework, investment incentives, and public-private partnership opportunities designed to attract foreign capital while ensuring sustainable development.

In his opening remarks, the member of government welcomed the Emirati delegation and emphasised that the meeting reflects a shared desire to forge strong partnerships in the field of transport, based on the availability of financial resources, technical competence, and the recognised expertise of the partners. 

He reaffirmed government's commitment to promoting mutually beneficial partnerships for the development of transport infrastructure. He equally reiterated his determination to support all serious initiatives likely to contribute to the sustainable and integrated development of the transport sector.

With regard to air transport, the DAC discussed prospects for fully implementing the Cameroon-United Arab Emirates bilateral air agreement signed in 2020, the provision of services to Cameroon by Emirati airlines, and opportunities for cooperation with Cameroon Airlines Corporation, CAMAIR-CO, particularly through the construction of aircraft maintenance workshops.

In the maritime sector, the DAMVN noted certain difficulties encountered by Cameroonian-flagged ships in the Emirates, the lack of inland waterway transport, and the need to strengthen ship tracking and traceability mechanisms in order to improve the safety and performance of the sector.

With regard to rail transport, the DTF presented several structural projects, including the construction of the Ngaoundere–N'Djamena railway line, the construction of the Edea–Kribi–Campo line, the rehabilitation of the Yaoundé–Ngaoundere line, and the construction of the Douala–Limbe–Idenau line, all designed to support regional integration and economic development.

Furthermore, the DEPPCO specified that, given the current financial programme, public-private partnerships, PPPs are the preferred method of financing for these projects.

At the close of the audience, Minister Ngalle Bibéhè reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to supporting and accompanying foreign investors, emphasising the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships. 

He stressed that strengthening transport infrastructure remains central to the country’s development agenda, as it facilitates trade, job creation, and national competitiveness.

The Emirati guests equally praised the quality of the discussions and expressed their willingness to facilitate contacts with companies and investors likely to finance the projects presented. To this end, they indicated the need for detailed project sheets in order to better assess their technical and financial feasibility.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3679 of Tuesday January 20, 2026