BY NDUMBE BELL GASTON
The Douala Autonomous Port (better known as PAD in French) is quoted by Invest in Cameroon magazine to have realized a net profit of FCFA 940.5 million according to statistics of the 2016 financial Year.The message was transmitted during the 67th session of the Board that happened recently in Douala.
Speaking to board members, the President of the Board Shey Jones Yembe recounted that profits before tax actually accounted for FCFA 2.16 billion and income and expenditure figure attained FCFAF 137.5 billion. Board members want PAD governance to improve as well. This led to a decision by the Board to create three specialized committees namely the audit, risk management, and that of planification and remuneration.
Everyone is optimistic about this year’s PAD performance. One of the reasons mentioned is the acquisition of a huge and rapidcross-beam equipment from the world’s most reputed Chinese manufacture ZPMC to ease the movement of goods and save time or avoid delays. This equipment, procured at the cost of FCFA 5.5 billion last May, is known to be the latest in the sector.
The new cross-beam is expected to significantly boost the handling capacities of container terminals. It has a mobile capacity to go to distant vessels to rapidly load goods weighing up to 45 tons as against a capacity of 40 tons in the past.