Visionary Reports

The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) and the Chadian Shippers’ Council (COC-Chad) have cemented a significant alliance, formalizing a landmark memorandum of understanding on April 28, 2025. This agreement is poised to revolutionize transit operations along the crucial Douala-N’Djamena corridor.

The official signing ceremony, held at PAD headquarters in Douala on April 28, 2025, underscored the firm commitment of both entities to enhance the efficiency of maritime and port transit. Cyrus Ngo’o, the Director General of PAD, and Hamid Djoumino, his counterpart at COC-Chad, signed the agreement, signaling a shared vision for streamlined administrative processes and smoother cargo transit. A key objective of this partnership is to educate Chadian stakeholders—including shippers and carriers—on transport corridor concepts and import-export procedures.This collaborative effort will focus on delivering tangible improvements through several key initiatives;Establishing an electronic data exchange system to optimize traffic management,Consolidating and regularly updating the Chadian shippers’ database,Creating a community center in N’Djamena to enhance communication with shippers,Conducting awareness campaigns for shippers and freight forwarders in Chad regarding the procedures at the Port of Douala-Bonaberi,Granting COC-Chad Port Synthèse membership thereby amplifying its influence within regional port activities.

However,to directly address the needs of Chadian shippers, PAD is implementing crucial measures, including;Further simplifying port procedures for goods in transit to Chad,Creating dedicated lanes and counters to expedite the processing of transit cargo, within the Douala port area, such as preferential rates and a simplified rebate mechanism for Chadian shippers.PAD has committed to maintaining open communication with COC-Chad, actively participating in Douala-N’Djamena corridor management bodies, and contributing to awareness initiatives in Chad. Conversely, COC-Chad will champion continuous dialogue with PAD, promote the advantages of the Port of Douala-Bonaberi among Chadian foreign trade players, and strive to increase the volume of Chadian traffic through Douala.In his address, PAD Director General Cyrus Ngo’o emphasized that this protocol was the result of over a year of discussions. He highlighted its significance in “structuring a framework for permanent consultation” between the two organizations, aligning with government directives to facilitate transit for landlocked neighbors like Chad and the Central African Republic. He also pointed out that this agreement builds upon the existing bilateral accord of April 13, 1999, between Cameroon and Chad on road transport, which guarantees freedom of transit and customs facilitation.Hamid Djoumino of COC-Chad commended PAD’s responsiveness and expressed strong optimism for this strengthened collaboration, rooted in the long-standing and amicable relationship between Cameroon and Chad.Nevertheless,this forward-looking partnership, initially set for four years, includes a provision for a joint evaluation three months prior to its expiration to discuss renewal. It promises to usher in an era of more efficient and beneficial cooperation for Chadian shippers, while solidifying the Port of Douala-Bonaberi’s pivotal role as Central Africa’s primary logistics hub for landlocked nations.

By HENRY WANA