Cameroon: a loan of EUR 330 million from the African Development Bank to improve the performance of the Douala-Ndjamena economic corridor
African Development Bank Group Board of Directors (African Development Bank website) this week approved two loans to Cameroon aimed at radically improving transport links with neighboring Chad, bringing significant economic benefits to both countries.
The funds, amounting to €318.24 million and €12.24 million respectively, are for the implementation of the fourth phase of the Transport Sector Support Program – Reconstruction of the Douala-N’Djamena Economic Corridor-Ngaoundére-Garoua segment (PAST 4) . The larger loan comes from the World Bank Group, while €12.24 million was provided through the African Development Fund, the World Bank Group’s concessional lending window.
The much-anticipated allocation was agreed on December 13 at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan.
“The Cameroonian authorities’ political choice to continuously improve service levels in the 2,100-kilometer Douala-N’Djamena corridor is justified as the corridor accounts for nearly 35% of the country’s GDP and serves 35% and 20% of Cameroon’s population. respectively. Cameroon and Chad,” explains Serge N’Guessan, Director General of the African Development Bank’s Central Africa Department.
He added: “The renovation of the most serious section between Ngaoundére and Garoua will help improve the performance of Cameroon’s road network to promote participation and private investment in the agro-industrial, transport and logistics sectors along Douala. En The Jamena Corridor will also facilitate cross-border trade.”
PAST Phase 4 builds on the success of previous phases by introducing an integrated approach to the development of the Douala-N’Djamena Economic Corridor. It addresses national infrastructure gaps while strengthening the capacity of vulnerable communities to cope with the impacts of climate change.
The initiative focuses on youth empowerment and gender equality, supporting the development of local industry and the private sector in promising areas such as agriculture, livestock and agro-processing. The program strategically develops the necessary infrastructure to support the government’s upcoming agro-industrial development plan for the Northern Region.
The immediate area of impact of the plan is the areas of Adamaoua (two districts) and Nord (three districts), which have an estimated population of 5.68 million inhabitants. On average, women make up 51% of the population, while young people under 20 years old make up more than half.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact information:
Alexis Adele
Department of Communications and External Relations
media@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is the premier multilateral financing institution dedicated to Africa’s development. It consists of three different entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NSF). The African Development Bank has field presence in 41 African countries and an external office in Japan, contributing to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: African Development Bank website
