US companies to invest in Kribi sea port

Many US companies have expressed their interest to invest in the port of Kribi which is based in Mboro, revealed Le Quotidien de l’Economie yesterday.

Michael Hoza, the USA Ambassador in Cameroon, visited the industrial port of Kribi complex, located 30 kilometers from the city of the seaside town of Kribi on Tuesday.

"We made the announcement in the US about the opportunities here at the port. There are many opportunities here for investment for jobs and for Cameroonians. Several sectors are concerned. There is transport to all countries of the subregion. But there are also export opportunities in the Congo Basin," said the US diplomat.

Sources informed that US companies such as General Electric in Cameroon, Cotco with Exxon Mobil and other US companies that are not as well known, Nobel Energy, could invest on the harbor platform of Kribi.

"The majority are large companies’ brands. They have resources, they have the expertise. The four priorities for me are that US companies bring high technology, they will employ Cameroonians, they have transparent finances. And finally, they respect the social and environmental responsibility," said Michael Hoza.

To Patrice Melom, coordinator of the operational unit of the industrial port complex of Kribi, which received the American ambassador, "there are American companies that are already interested, for example in security. The ambassador raised the possibility of creating some sort of connection between the port of Kribi and other US companies. This does not even rule out that some people leave here to visit these companies."

The component port of the port has been completed. It includes a container terminal and a multipurpose terminal with basic infrastructure. The operation of this phase is imminent.

An operator has been selected for the container terminal, an operator for the multipurpose terminal, and an operator for the towing and mooring, sources said.