On Monday, marked a significant milestone between the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and the Government of Central Africa Republic (CAR), following the finalisation of a signing ceremony on the amendment of the CAR logistics base agreement for the extension and modernization of the customs logistics bases of Douala and Kribi operated by CAR.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister & Head of Government for Central African Republic (CAR) His Excellency (H.E.) Henri-Marie Dondra – “Cameroon is at the heart of transit activities as a point of arrival of goods to the Central African Republic.
“Thus, in order to facilitate this transit of goods, the Cameroonian government has made available to the Central African Republic plots of land in Douala and Kribi, thus allowing the storage of goods and other goods in transit for the CAR. It is in this context that in October 2019, the government signed a concession contract allowing the development of these plots for the benefit of importers and exporters.”
The CDC was granted a concession in late 2019 by the government of CAR to develop & modernise the customs logistics bases.
“Due to various challenges, occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic in part, this led to delays in the execution of the project. However, we are delighted that the Government of CAR has kept faith in the CDC to finish off what it started,” says Khwezi Tiya, CDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The signing ceremony which took place in CAR between the H.E. Prime Minister & Head of Government for Central African Republic (CAR) Henri-Marie Dondra and the CEO of the CDC, Khwezi Tiya will see the project contribute to the improvement of storage conditions of goods arriving in Dwala, Cameroon on route to CAR as well as goods from CAR to the Port of Cameroon and the optimization of customs revenues for CAR by improving the standard of customs operations.
The project will also see the improvement of logistics that impact positively on the competitiveness of the CAR economy.
With the CDC revered for its project management services as well as operational expertise for similar activities. The CDC’s Programme Director for the Coega Africa Programme, Idriss Mouchili highlighted, “amongst some of the key outcomes of this project include related logistics improvement and the transfer of skills to CAR nationals through the training of young people who will be involved in the implementation of the project.”
Through its African Trade and Investment Solutions Strategy, the CDC is championing the country’s renewed push for business exchanges between South Africa and the rest of the continent.
With a footprint also in Zimbabwe the CDC is providing technical advisory and co-development of SEZs, Industrial Parks, Dry Ports and public infrastructure.
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS: Khwezi Tiya, CDC CEO giving his inputs to the media on the CDC’s African Trade and Investment Solutions Strategy.
In his inputs, the CDC CEO, Khwezi Tiya highlighted – “It’s important that we actively take part in the development of the African continent.
“That we provide solutions to the challenges that jointly enjoin us as Africans and most importantly we seek to leverage from each other’s skills to respond to the need of developing our economies.”
In closing, Mr Tiya acknowledged the support of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation as represented by the South African High Commission in Cameroon and the South African Embassy in the Central African Republic whom without their support the CDC would not have managed to achieve the various milestones it has.