Cameroon and Chad are set to enhance their trade ties as construction of the bridge over the Logone River linking Yagoua and Bongor towns progresses. The 620-meter infrastructure, whose completion is scheduled for March 4, 2024, is 43% complete, according to the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi. Dieudonné Zonou, the head of the project management unit, stated that his team is working tirelessly to ensure the bridge is completed by the set date, with the possibility of early completion due to the two contract winners, Razel and Sotcogog.
Boosting Trade Between Cameroon and Chad
The new bridge is a significant opportunity for the Cameroonian government to increase its trade relations with its neighbor, Chad. In 2021, Cameroon’s exports to Chad accounted for 3.8% of its African exports, making it the main destination for Cameroonian exports on the continent. The Logone River bridge will be the second such infrastructure between Cameroon and Chad, following the Nguéli Bridge, which connects Kousseri in Cameroon and Ndjamena in Chad.
Financing and Project Scope
The project, which is expected to cost CFA74 billion, is being financed by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU). The scope of the project also includes the construction of 14.2 kilometers of access roads, with 7.4 kilometers on the Chadian side and 6.8 kilometers on the Cameroonian side, as well as other facilities such as border posts and signaling systems. The project is expected to cost approximately CFA92 billion in total.
In overall, the construction of the Logone River bridge is progressing well, and it is expected to be completed on schedule or even ahead of schedule. Once completed, the bridge will offer a significant boost to trade between Cameroon and Chad, improving economic ties and facilitating the movement of goods and people.
