The group owned by the captain of the French industry, Vincent Bolloré confirms that it has responded to the different calls for expression of interest launched by the Cameroonian government in that regard.

This announcement was made by Dominique Lafont, boss of Bolloré Africa Logistics, during an exchange with the Douala media: «This project will enable Cameroon to develop its port capacities, because the Douala port will soon be saturated. And, as a container terminals management specialist, we intend to assist Cameroun in this project», he explained.

In the handling sector, Bolloré Africa Logistics is present almost everywhere on the coasts of Africa. The group administers the port terminals of Abidjan, Lomé, Cotonou, Pointe-Noire, Port-Gentil... In Cameroon, Bolloré Africa Logistics is represented by Douala International Terminal (DIT) which, according to several seasoned international trade observers, is considered as « a reference port in Africa».

Actually, the DIT traffic has increased by 53% since 2005, rising from 190 000 to 290 000 20-foot equivalent units (Eqv). For 2007, this performance rose from 288 932 to 333 834 20-foot equivalent units, i.e. a 15% increase in the volume of traffic. The increase in productivity, the simplification of procedures, the development of equipment and a high-tech computer system helped regulate this increase, while improving the quality of services.

DIT, with its rate of handling vessels beyond 20 movements/h, and delivery transactions of less than 45 minutes per container, is among the leading three terminals of the continent.

DIT intends to invest more than 30 billion Cfa F to pursue the modernisation of the Douala port's container terminal. Strengthened by this performance, the group would therefore be in pole position in the competition for the concession of the Kribi deep-water port's container terminal.

Monday, 27 February 2012 09:29 | (BUSINESSINCAMEROON.COM)