By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Head of the Analysis and Statistics Unit at the Port Authority of Douala, PAD, Atonkoumou Atonkoumou Serge, has stated that the port generates a total wealth of approximately FCFA 1,365 billion annually.
Serges made this announcement during the PAD Group conference on February 23 at the 9th International Exhibition for Enterprises, SMEs, and Partnerships in Yaoundé, PROMOTE 2024, held at the Congress Hall in Yaounde.
Discussing the role and impact of the Port of Douala-Bonabéri on the local and national economy, Serges highlighted that the port not only creates wealth but also significantly contributes to external trade. He mentioned that around 70 percent of the total tonnage of goods traded between Cameroon and its trading partners flows through the port.
Moreover, in 2019, the port generated 166,795 jobs, with salaries and wages indirectly amounting to CFAF 495.2 billion. From 2016 to 2020, PAD’s contribution to local wealth creation averaged 35.1 percent in the city of Douala, with 28 percent coming from indirect players.
In terms of national wealth creation, PAD has contributed an average of 13.5 percent to the national formal economy annually, with 11 percent from indirect players. Regarding employment, PAD contributes 43.1 percent of formal employment in the Douala city and 17.9 percent of national formal employment.
Serges also mentioned that Customs revenue from the Port of Douala reached CFAF 700 billion out of an annual average of CFAF 821.6 billion between 2018 and 2019. The port’s contribution to customs revenue mobilization includes 25.2 percent to the State’s non-oil revenue and 21.7 percent to the State’s internal revenue. Additionally, direct and extended players pay CFAF 27.2 billion in taxes on production and income annually on average.
It was highlighted that the Port of Douala has reached its saturation point due to draft constraints, hindering the extension or continuation of current traffic because of the growth in maritime traffic. Therefore, establishing a new deep-water port complex closer to the Wouri estuary is deemed necessary in the long term (from 2035 to 2050) to sustain Douala’s status as a major port complex based on its historical significance, tradition, and geographical location.
PAD is envisaging the extension of the Port of Douala by establishing a deep port in the Manoka Island. This expansion is outlined in the Master Plan. An international call for interest has been issued for the development of the site/port. The development of the deep-water seaport is a highly ambitious undertaking that involves addressing numerous technical uncertainties that carry significant economic implications.
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