Interested in investing? Cameroon is the place for you!

Here we discuss about 7 mega projects in Cameroon that will lead it to becoming the ultimate business hub of Central Africa.

Cameroon is a vibrant country in Central Africa known for its diverse landscapes and cultures. It has immense potential in several sectors, such as agriculture and oil business. Now is the time to invest in its untapped resources and get high returns.

Over the years, Cameroon has developed a lot and it is currently one of the most opportune economies that you can invest in. In order to enable its unlimited potential and resources it has started a few new projects. From infrastructural marvels to digital innovations, let’s dive into 7 of the most awe-inspiring projects in Cameroon that are sure to leave you amazed.

The Kribi Deep Sea Port is a colossal infrastructure project located in the coastal town of Kribi, about 150 kilometers south of Douala. This port is designed to handle large container ships. These large container ships previously could not dock in Cameroon due to the shallow waters of ports. The previous main port was in Douala, which lacked such capacity. Hence the government was also in need of a modern large-scale port. It is the largest deep-sea port in Central Africa. This project resulted in the relocation of Lolabe, a fishing village.

Figure: Deep Sea Port, Kribi

The primary purpose of this port is to facilitate international trade by providing an efficient gateway. Cameroon’s economy heavily relies on marine transportation and port trade. This port also reduces the congestion at the Douala port, which has been the main entry and exit point for goods in Cameroon. The port began operations in 2018 and has shown great results.

Outcomes:

• Increased trade capacity and reduced shipping costs.
• Attraction of foreign investment due to improved logistics.
• Job creation in port operations and related industries.
• Convenient access to the sea for central and west African countries
• Solved the problem of low efficiency in the Port of Douala

The Douala Grand Mall is the largest shopping mall in Central Africa. It is located near the Douala International Airport. The mall is over 18,000 square meters. The project was completed in 2021.

Source: Proparco Groupe AFD

Figure: Project Douala Shopping Mall 

The mall aims to provide a modern retail and entertainment experience. The mall helps meet Douala’s growing demand for high-quality shopping and leisure facilities.

Outcomes:

• Creation of many jobs in retail, security, and maintenance.
• Increased local and foreign investment in the retail sector.
• Enhanced quality of life for residents with more shopping and entertainment options.
• The attraction of tourists and business travelers boosts the local economy.

The Nachtigal Hydroelectric Project is located on the Sanaga River, approximately 65 kilometers northeast of Yaoundé. This project will produce 420 megawatts of electricity and is just over half completed as of 2022.

Source: IFC

Figure: The Nachtigal Hydroelectric Project

The project aims to increase the country’s electricity generation capacity. THis ensures a more reliable power supply to meet the growing energy demands of both residential and industrial sectors.

Outcomes:

• Significant reduction in power shortages.
• Support for industrial and economic growth through reliable power supply.
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by increasing reliance on renewable energy.
• Job creation during the construction and operational phases.

The Yaoundé-Douala Highway is an essential infrastructural project. It connects the Yaoundé with Douala, Cameroon’s 2 largest cities. Yaounde is known as the political capital and Douala the economic capital. This highway spans approximately 215 kilometers. The first 60km section of the highway opened to traffic in 2022, took about seven years to reach completion. It is first high-grade highway built in the country.

Source: ENR

Figure: The Yaounde Douala Highway

The highway is designed to improve transportation efficiency, reduce travel time, and enhance road safety between the two major cities.

Outcomes:

• Reduced travel time from six hours to around three hours.
• Enhanced trade and commerce between Yaoundé and Douala.
• Improved road safety with modern highway features.
• Economic growth through better connectivity and reduced logistics costs.

The Memve’ele Hydroelectric Dam is situated on the Ntem River, near the border with Equatorial Guinea. It has a generating capacity of 211 megawatts and is an open-channel diversion power station. It accounts for 20% of the total power generation in Cameroon. Its average annual power generation is 1.187 billion kWh. Construction started in 2012 and finished in 2018.

Figure: The Memve’ele Hydroelectric Dam

This project aims to increase the national power supply and provide electricity to southern Cameroon, which has traditionally faced power shortages. Its main functions include power generation and flood control.

Outcomes:

• Increased electricity supply, contributing to national grid stability.
• Improvement in power shortages in Yaounde.
• Support for local industries and economic activities.
• Thousands of jobs were created in construction.
• Potential for regional energy exports to neighboring countries.

The Douala International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Cameroon. Its expansion includes the construction of a new terminal, upgraded runways, and enhanced cargo handling facilities.

Figure: Douala International Airport Expansion Plan

The project aims to increase passenger capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the overall travel experience. This will also help in trade and help bring investments into the country. Cameroon intends to solidify its role as a transport hub for Central Africa.

Outcomes:

• Increased passenger and cargo handling capacity.
• Enhanced tourism and business travel.
• Improved safety and security measures.
• Economic growth through increased connectivity.

The Fiber Optic Backbone project is a nationwide initiative to provide high-speed internet connectivity across Cameroon. Cameroon has signed a MoU with the Central African Republic (CAR) for this. It involves setting up of 916 km of optical fibre cables.

Source: Resilient Digital Africa

The project aims to reduce the high cost of communication in the business climate in the Central African countries. This helps enhance communication infrastructure and support the growth of the digital economy. Cameroon suffered from the lack of digital infrastructure and this will help fix that.

Outcomes:

• Increased capacity and quality of telecommunication services.
• Strengthen internet access across the whole region.
• Support for digital education and e-learning initiatives.
• Growth of the ICT sector and creation of tech jobs.
• Increased contribution of the ICT sector to Cameroon’s GDP
• Enhanced business operations and innovation through better connectivity.

Cameroon’s mega projects are taking Cameroon to new heights. These are helping Cameroon become the business hub of Central Africa. From the new Kribi Deep Sea Port improving trade to Projects like the Nachtigal and Memve’ele Hydroelectric Dams to ensure steady electricity. These projects drive growth in the country by improving trade, connectivity, infrastructure, and digital space.  All these make it an even better location for you to invest in. Cameroon is a country with abundant resources. To know which sector to invest in and get high returns from this country, click here.

Wait no further and invest now in this growing economy with plenty of opportunities!