(Business in Cameroon) - On 25 and 28 July 2017, the Singaporean group Olam and Philippine ICTSI respectively contacted the Cameroonian government, to express their interest in taking over from French Necotrans in the consortium declared winner (in 2015) of the contract for the concession of the multipurpose terminal at the deep water port of Kribi, awaiting commissioning in the Southern region of Cameroon.

This information was revealed by the newspaper Integration, at the time when the newspaper Les Echos was rather announcing a consortium led by the Bolloré group taking over the assets of Necotrans at the port of Kribi, following the legal liquidation of the assets of the group Necotrans as per a ruling in France.

For the moment, sources within the Cameroonian subsidiary of Bolloré Transport Logistics are denying this information on the takeover of the assets of Necotrans at the multipurpose terminal in the deep water port of Kribi.

But, if it was confirmed, this positioning by French logistics company Bolloré on the multipurpose terminal in the largest port in Cameroon, after winning the contract for the container terminal in association with CHEC and CMA CGM, could lead to legal issues, according to experts.

Experts invoke the fact that, prior to its eviction from the consortium formed with KPMO to operate the multipurpose terminal of Kribi, Necotrans has not yet signed a formal concession contract with the Cameroonian authorities. Consequently, this operator may not claim any right on this terminal where he was not able to fulfil its first commitments, due to insolvency.

Brice R. Mbodiam