Announcement of Nineteen Million US Dollars for Highways in Cameroon on February 11, 1970

INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPM ~T • 1818 H INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON D.C.20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 Bank Press Release No. 70/8 IDA Press Release No. 70/7 Subject: $19 million for highways February 11, 1970 in Cameroon The World Bank and its affiliate, the International Development Association (IDAh are lending $19 million for a highway project in the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Two of the roads ·involved will make a major contribution toward com- pletion of the vital Transcameroon road-rail route which will extend from the Chad border to the coast. Two others radiate from Douala, the main port: one to link with Victoria, an important commercial center, and the other with the densely populated, Bamileke agricultural region. The project comprises the · • improvement to all-weather standards of a total of 183 miles of road which will expedite the transport of goods at lower costs, and feasibility studies and de- tailed engineering of an additional 269 miles. The economic growth of Cameroon hinges mainly on its agricultural develop- ment. Cameroon has considerable productive potential but development of important inland regions has been hampered by the limitations of the transport system on which the export of agricultural products depends. Furthermore, part of the task of economic and social integration of East and West Cameroon, which joined to be- come a Federation in 1961, involves the improvement of the transport links between the important population centers of the country. Recognizing the decisive importan ce of transportation to economic grow'th, 1 the Government has given transport 1.mprovement a dominant place in its develop-. ,, • ment plans. The single, most important prcject is improvement of the 1transcameroon /more Bank P.R. No. 70/8 - Cameroon-Highways " IDA P.R. No. 70/7 - 2 - route, a major interregional and international link about 1,240 miles long. It • connects the heav_ily populated and potentially productive northern provinces with the rest of the country and the sea, particularly with Yaounde, the capital, and Douala, the main port; it also serves the southwestern part of landlocked Chad. This involves expanding the port of Douala, increasing the capacity of the rail- way line from Douala to Yaounde, extending this railway to N'Gaoundere, and pro- viding a better road from N'Gaoundere via Garoua and Mora to the Chad border. In addition to its own contribution $nd Bank and IDA assistance for these works, the Government is receiving funds from the United States, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Development Fund and the European Investment Bankm The Bank loan and IDA credit will assist in financing Luprovement of the 169-mile Transcameroon road section from N'Gaoundere to Garoua, and feasibility • studies and detailed engineering of the next 157-mile section from Garoua to Mora • To improve transport links with West Cameroon, a road between Douala and Tiko was recently built with French financing. With the help of Bank and IvA funds, this high-standard, paved road will be extended anothar 14 miles to Victoria, an impor- tant port and commercial center. Feasibility studies and engineering, for the two roads now to be improved were financed by a World Bank grant of $200,000 and an IDA credit of $550,000. The project also includes feasibility studies and detailed engineering of a 112-mile road from Do,uala to Pont du Nkam in the Bam.ileke region. Both the Bank loan and the IDA-credit will be made to the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The Bank loan, in the amount of $12 million, will be for a term of 30 years, including a 10-year period of grace, with interest at 7%. The IDA credit, of $7 million, will be for a term of 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It will be interest-free, but a service chargei of 3/4 of 1% will be made to cover IDA' s administrative ,costs. - 0 - •  'FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON FIRST HIGHWAY PROJECT • ~ -(ma:J) so R O A D S 100 kM Project roads to be constructed P!'.!lj:ect roads to be studied Main trunk roads (bituminized) Road under construction (KFII'. and Caine roan fiilancf}d) Other main roads RAILWAYS Existing Projected (FAC,FED,EIB and USAIO- financed) ' ~ Seasonal river service 0 In tern a tional airport Ports DISTANCES IN KILOMETERS Fort Lamy-Douala (Cameroon Route) 2,080 Fort Lamy-Lagos (Nigerian Route) 2,040 (BENUE Garoua-Burutu (Benue Route) 1,550 Moundou-Pte.Noire JTransequatorial Route) 2,450 Niger Ri.iJer 0 and Bz.trlltu :,;,· ! I -. "'\.. \ l i ) r/ \ \ \ , • ' / \ J ,,.J .- ) .-. _f- / '-' I i .I ./· ,J / I CENTRAL AFRICAN '· "' ~ j~O Berberoti '-a. g> ~ < .g \ ~. \, .'\. R E PU BL IC Biqhl of Biofra ·, ·, ......... ·, • \ ~ / \ I ' ·,..-·-· -·-·-· -·t . ~-.-·-·-·-·-·-·-·L·-·.-·-·-·~ ,,. ~ .J ~., """'·J\ \/' J'· REPUBLIC OF . ! ~ G A BO N ~ C O N GO '""-·--........... ·-. ( EQUATORIAL GUINEA 1 j S .J ( BR AZ i. AV 1Ll E ) '·......_ \ .. ( \J"· JANUARY 1970 IBRD - 2619R1