Akwa, Douala, Cameroon Africa, October 15th (news.cameroon-today.com) – The Douala Maritime SeaPort Authority signed an agreement earlier this week with the Upper Penja Plantation, PHP, Group that amounts to privatizing the fruits terminal.
Douala Cameroon Maritime Transport seaport
A deal was inked between the Douala SeaPort Authority and Upper Penja Plantation on October 15. The clauses of the agreement permit them to manage all activities of the Fruits Terminal and handle all aspects of maintenance of the terminal as well.
The contract which will last for as long as a time frame of 15 years involves an investment of FCFA 6.56 billion francs which will be directed solely towards the betterment of the conditions of the Fruits terminal.
Addressing the audience present to witness the inking of the deal, the Director General of PAD (Port Autonome de Douala), Jean Marcel Dayas Mounoume, said the Douala Ports authority has been facing stiff competition and numerous terminals including the container terminal have been handed over to private groups since 2003. He said the privatization of the tugboat activities areas are intended to attract more of funding and equips the port to contribute more to the country’s economy.
Dayas said the contract with PAD and PHP will give a total makeover to the image that the Cameroon Banana has in the global market, improve the efficiency of the management of the fruit terminal and fuel measure towards improvement and modernization of the terminal which will start with installation of a new refrigerator.
He also said the contract is strong proof for the efforts that the PAD has made to improve the current condition of the Douala seaport so that it may be better equipped to handle the stiff competition that it is facing from its other African neighbors. He feels that once the port is accredited with the ISO 9001-2008 Quality Management Certificate there will be more vessels and thanked the prime Minister for sanctioning the project and all other well wishers who contributed towards the successful completion of the deal.
On his part the Director General of PHP, Armel François stated that the agreement will breathe a fresh life into the already sturdy ties between the PHP and the PAD.
He also indicated that the convention has given them more responsibilities and being exclusive users of the fruit quay will give them more rights in an age where Banana has undergone drastic makeover they will ensure that their field in banana will not be a cue for a third party to make profits.
He also indicated that fridge will be installed to ensure that the fruits remain fresh and the device will be supervised by the PHP at all times.
