From rocky beaches to major ports in Central Africa, fifteen years have transformed a fishing village into a regional hub. The Kribi Deepwater Port in Cameroon, constructed by CHEC, celebrates its 15th anniversary of foundation laying. The former reefs and small beaches have now become a comprehensive port area covering 26000 hectares and home to 18 enterprises. A Central African gateway to the sea is becoming wider and wider.

Fishing village becomes a major port

The Kribi Deepwater Port is located in the southern region of Cameroon and is a key infrastructure project undertaken by CHEC in Africa. The first phase of the project is from 2011 to 2014, and the second phase is from 2019 to 2024. The former reefs and small beaches have now been built into a comprehensive port area covering 26000 hectares, including an industrial park. Patrick Mpila Ayisi, the infrastructure manager of the industrial zone, revealed that since 2018, the industrial zone has attracted nearly 400 billion CFA francs, about 4.7 billion yuan, issued more than 90 entry permits, and 18 enterprises have started operating. The area has also expanded from the originally planned 455 hectare logistics zone to the current comprehensive industrial zone covering 4000 hectares. The port operation data continues to grow, with container throughput exceeding 555000 TEUs by 2025, an increase of about four times compared to 2018; The total freight volume in 2024 exceeds 12.7 million tons. Goods flow from Kribi to Gabon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), and Equatorial Guinea, and Kribi Port is becoming an important sea route for landlocked countries and a trade hub in Central Africa.

Hong Kong thrives and people thrive

The construction and operation of ports create a large number of jobs for the local area. Gu Gaobai, General Manager of the Cameroon Country Project Group of CHEC Central Africa Regional Company, introduced that during the peak period of the project, there were about 2000 local employees, and now these trained skilled workers have been put back into the construction of the industrial zone. Local employees received systematic skills training in the project, and painter Ndenya Engatugirius has been working here for over 10 years. He said that the Chinese work model allows people to comprehensively learn professional skills. Local young people lack technical experience when they first enter the project, but through training and practice, they gradually grow into qualified technical personnel. The driving effect of the port on the city is also significant. Rocher Mwogo, a resident of Kribi, recalled that Kribi used to be more like a village with only a narrow dirt road. Nowadays, the road is wide and there are more shops along the street. The port and related industries have created many job opportunities. Local property representatives and experts often refer to Kribi as the Shenzhen of Cameroon, a city of the future.

Blueprint connects to distant places

The expansion of the Kribi Port Industrial Zone is still ongoing. Ayixi expects that the industrial zone will attract an additional $900 million in investment and create 150000 direct and indirect jobs in the next 15 years. The port infrastructure has been upgraded synchronously, and the Kribi Deepwater Port Phase II project has been officially put into operation in May 2025, including two 70000 ton and 100000 ton container terminals and related supporting facilities. The Kribi Port Authority has signed an agreement with the Kribi Container Terminal Operations Company, jointly established by CHEC, Africa Global Logistics Company, and French shipping group Daffy Shipping Group, to operate the Phase II project during the franchise period. In addition, the industrial zone is also planning new projects such as oil and gas terminals to further expand the port's business functions. Keywords: Kribi Deepwater Port, China Africa Trade Hub

From logistics area to comprehensive industrial area, from a dock to an industrial ecosystem, Kribi Port continues to attract capital and talent with a rolling development rhythm. For small and medium-sized enterprises going global, focusing on the continuous demand of the park's supply chain and incorporating localized training into project planning may be more practical than waiting for a major procurement. This Cameroonian city of Shenzhen is spreading more opportunities to the Central African continent.Editor/Min Jing