(Business in Cameroon) – The Port Authority of Douala (PAD), which manages Cameroon’s main port, is expressing interest in the renovation of Garoua Port in the northern part of the country. This was announced during a workshop that reviewed and approved the feasibility study for the port’s renovation and the dredging of Lagdo and Maga lakes, conducted by the firms Le Competing/Bet Geocompetence and Scet Tunisie.
PAD intends to dredge Garoua Port as part of its renovation project. With its experience in dredging, PAD has been maintaining the waters, quay bases, docks, and channel of Douala Port since 2020. They recently refurbished the multifunctional dredger Chantal Biya in Nigeria.
PAD also plans to use its expertise to improve governance tools and develop Garoua Port into an economic powerhouse for the northern regions. The goal is to create an industrial-port complex that expands beyond the current boundaries.
This plan will be outlined in a master plan for Garoua Port’s development from 2025 to 2035. The master plan will need to align with the national sustainable development strategy, the northern regional development plan, and planned investments such as the Ngaoundéré dry port and the proposed extension of the Ngaoundéré-N’Djamena railway through Garoua.
Garoua Port, built over 60 years ago, has struggled with reduced activity due to sediment buildup. The long-awaited renovation, requiring more than CFA16 billion, aims to enhance trade with Nigeria and formalize many transactions with this neighboring country.
