(Business in Cameroon) – China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) has been selected as the lead contractor for construction of the new headquarters of Cameroon’s General Directorate of Customs. The building will be located in Yaoundé’s new administrative district in Mballa II, on a 10,000 m² site. The project includes an office complex with an 11-story tower, two lateral wings, outdoor facilities, and conference halls with 200 and 500 seats.
The future headquarters, designed to accommodate 800 people, has an estimated cost of about CFA23 billion. Project management is shared between CMEC and the INTEGC consulting firm. Officials from the General Directorate of Customs have not yet disclosed details regarding the project’s financing.
At the groundbreaking ceremony on December 9 in Yaoundé, CMEC representative Cui Haozhen said the company would “mobilize its best teams, reliable technologies and materials, and advanced Chinese management” to ensure quality, safety, and project progress. He added that CMEC would work “closely with the client, the supervision team, engineers, and all partners in a transparent and efficient manner to make this project a safe, reliable, high-quality model.”
CMEC, a Sinomach subsidiary with ongoing work in Cameroon
The Chinese firm is not new to construction projects in Cameroon. A subsidiary of the state-owned Sinomach, CMEC was called in this year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for emergency repairs on several roads in Yaoundé.
The company’s engagement with the ministry dates back about ten years. In 2018, its leadership met with the former minister to discuss infrastructure projects ahead of preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. These discussions covered access and bypass roads, parking areas for the Bafoussam sports stadium in the West region, and the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Yaoundé.
Since last May, CMEC has also been working on a project to establish an agricultural mechanization center in Cameroon, in partnership with the Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and Forestry.
A showcase project for the Customs administration
According to CMEC, the new Customs headquarters aims to set a benchmark for ecological construction and serve as a regional model. Once completed, it is expected to provide Cameroon’s customs administration with a modern working environment and significantly improve administrative efficiency. The company presents the project as a showcase in both architectural design and administrative performance.
CMEC has committed to delivering the new headquarters within the contractual timeline of three and a half years. Meeting this schedule will determine when the building can be commissioned and when the expected efficiency gains for the administration can materialize.
Ludovic Amara
