The Kribi Port Industrial Zone (KPIZ), officially launched in Yaoundé, represents an investment of 795 million euros (approximately 521 billion FCFA). This initiative aims to transform Cameroon into a major industrial hub in Central Africa, by bringing production units closer to port infrastructure to maximize local value addition.
Structured as a public-private partnership between the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) and a consortium of international and local operators, including Africa Global Logistics, Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP) and Belmont Investments, the ZIPK will span 4,000 hectares. The project is part of Cameroon's National Development Strategy (SND30), aimed at structurally transforming the country's economy. The first phase of the project, amounting to 262.4 billion FCFA, is supported by international donors such as the African Development Bank and the European Union.
The project is organized around three main clusters: wood processing and logistics, steel production, and petrochemicals, with a dedicated area for agri-food and construction materials industries. Tax and customs incentives, a direct connection to the deep-water port and world-class infrastructure are highlighted to attract investors. The port of Kribi, a pillar of Cameroon's economic performance since 2018, has handled 93 million tons of goods and managed 2,150,000 containers. It has also generated more than 1,200 billion FCFA in customs revenue.
Upon completion in 2040, the industrial zone is expected to contribute between 5 and 8% to national GDP, create up to 150,000 direct and indirect jobs, and generate nearly 1,000 billion FCFA in annual tax revenues. The ZIPK aims to reduce the country's dependence on imports and diversify state revenues. In 2026, the Kribi industrial-port zone already hosts more than 45 operational or installation-in-progress companies.
