CEMAC - Transport-Transit Facilitation Project

The objective of the Transport-Transit Facilitation Project of CEMAC is to facilitate regional trade among the Member States and improve the Central African Republic, the Republic of Cameroon's and the Republic of Chad's access to world markets, through: (i) improving the implementation of the CEMAC Customs Union; and (ii) reducing physical and non physical barriers along the Douala-N'Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors. The Project is expected to include the following major components to be funded with support from IDA, African Development Fund (ADF), EC, France and Japan through parallel funding arrangements: (I) Roads and Railway Infrastructure Improvement: This will include: (i) periodic maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading works on selected road sections along the corridors; (ii) paving of existing gravel road sections; (iii) harmonization and enforcement of axle load control policies; (iv) improvement of rest areas; (v) rehabilitation of critical rail infrastructure; and (vi) implementation of HIV-AIDS awareness and mitigation measures. (11) Transit and Transport Facilitation Investments: This will include: (i) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) communication between stakeholders, especially within the port community; (ii) transit regime and border crossing improvements through cargo tracking, border posts); (iii) port safety and security strengthening; and (iv) improvement in inter-modal interfaces. (111) Customs and Transport Sector Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building: This will include: (i) CEMAC Customs Union and national customs strengthening; (ii) institutional support for transport facilitation institutions; and (iii) management of the project's components. IDA funding primarily covers: In Cameroon, contribution to the paving of the Ngaoundere-Garoua-Boulai section, rehabilitation of rail track between Yaounde and Belabo (component 1 (ii) and (v)), facilitation of the port IT interfaces and Security improvement in Douala, inter-modal interfaces in Douala and Ngaoundere (component 2 (i),(iii) and (iv)), and customs reform and institutional support to the ministries of transport and public works (component 3); In Chad, the co-funding with Republic of Chad of a long-term performance based maintenance contract and critical road rehabilitation works on the N'Djamkna - Moundou - Touboro (Cameroonian border) road section (component 1 (i) and (iii)) and institutional support to customs and the ministry of infrastructure (component 3 (i) (ii) and (iii)); In CAR, a contribution to the paving of the Garoua-Bou1ai-Bouar section and emergency maintenance on the international network (component 1 (i) and (ii)), improvement of inter-modal interfaces (component 2 (iv)) and support to customs reform and to ministries of transport and public works (component 3 (i) (ii) and (iii)).