The Kribi Port Industrial Zone (KPIZ) is projected to boost Cameroon's economy, potentially adding 5 to 8 percentage points to the country's growth over the next 15 years, and generating 150,000 jobs. Patrice Melom, Director General of the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) and Chairman of the Board of KPIZ, announced these forecasts at the zone's official launch on February 26, 2026, in Yaoundé.
The launch follows the General Assembly meetings and the inaugural Board meeting of the public-private company established to develop and manage 4,000 hectares of industrial land integrated within the port area of Kribi. The project brings together the Port Authority of Kribi with key private partners: Africa Global Logistics (AGL), Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, and Belmont Investments.
According to Patrice Melom, KPIZ is expected to create approximately 150,000 direct and indirect jobs within 15 years, with a particular focus on benefiting young people. He also anticipates a positive impact on public finances through increased customs and tax revenues. The mineral and hydrocarbon terminals are expected to be completed within 5 to 6 years, further strengthening the industrial ecosystem around the port.
Yves Roger Melingui, Director General of KPIZ, emphasized that the company will be responsible for the design, financing, development, operation, and maintenance of the integrated industrial zone. The goal is to elevate the Port of Kribi, especially its industrial component, to international standards in the development of economic zones. KPIZ will serve as the primary interface with potential clients and investors, actively promoting the zone internationally to attract foreign direct investment. For the next 12 months, two priorities have been defined: upgrading existing infrastructure and improving services for companies already present, and launching new development phases by finalizing technical and environmental studies, while mobilizing public and private funding.
The total investment, deployed in phases, is estimated at approximately 520 billion FCFA. This program includes internal road networks, structured service systems (energy, water, sanitation, telecommunications), and a logistics complex with modular warehouses and a multi-functional business center. Currently, about 300 hectares are operational, hosting more than 60 companies, mainly in logistics and priority sectors such as agro-industry, cement, petrochemicals, and steel. The project aims to transform the port into an industrial production hub, increasing local added value.
