The Kribi Port Industrial Zone (KPIZ) has the potential to boost Cameroon's economy, with a projected increase of 5 to 8 percentage points in growth over the next 15 years, and the creation of up to 150,000 jobs. This forecast was announced on February 26, 2026, in Yaoundé by Patrice Melom, Director General of the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) and Chairman of the Board of KPIZ, during the official launch of the zone.
The launch follows the general meetings and the first 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 private partners such as Africa Global Logistics (AGL), Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, and Belmont Investments.
Patrice Melom emphasized that the zone is expected to generate approximately 150,000 direct and indirect jobs over 15 years, particularly for young people. He also mentioned a positive impact on customs and tax revenues. According to Melom, the mineral and hydrocarbon terminals are expected to be completed within five to six years, in collaboration with developers, to strengthen the industrial ecosystem around the port.
Yves Roger Melingui, Director General of KPIZ, clarified that the company will be responsible for the design, financing, development, operation, and maintenance of the integrated industrial zone. He expressed the ambition to elevate the port of Kribi, especially its industrial component, to a higher level and align it with international standards for the development of economic and industrial zones. KPIZ will serve as an interface with potential clients and investors, promoting the zone internationally to attract foreign direct investment.
For the next 12 months, Yves Roger Melingui has defined two operational priorities: improving existing infrastructure and the quality of services offered to companies already established, and launching the development of new phases by finalizing detailed technical and environmental studies and mobilizing public and private funding.
The total investment, planned in phases, is estimated at approximately 520 billion FCFA. The program includes internal road networks, structured service systems (energy, water, sanitation, telecommunications), and a logistics complex with modular warehouses and a multifunctional business center. Approximately 300 hectares are already operational, hosting over 60 companies, mainly in logistics and priority sectors such as agro-industry, cement, petrochemicals, and steel.
On behalf of the private partners, Olivier de Noray, CEO of AGL Ports & Terminals, presented this launch as the second phase of a structuring project for Cameroon and the sub-region. He emphasized that the industrial zone is the natural extension of the port as a gateway, recalling that industrial activity on the site was limited ten years ago.
KPIZ was created in February 2026 as part of the national strategy to structure industrial expansion within the port area. The development will extend over 15 years, around clusters such as wood processing and logistics, steel linked to mineral exports, petrochemicals, agro-industry, and construction materials.
