The Minister of economy, planning and regional development (Minepat), Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, and Daniel Feremans, head of the Belfius Bank in Belgium, recently concluded an agreement worth 14 billion CFA francs for the financing of a project for the improvement of drinking water, in 11 major cities.

These cities include; Yaounde, Douala, Garoua, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Nkongsamba, Maroua, Buea, Limbe, Akonolinga and Ambam. In detail, this project will consist of the rehabilitation of some production facilities, especially the laying of nearly 200 000 metres of pipes, which will offer the possibility to connect about 15,000 additional subscribers to the drinking water distribution network in the country.

The Department of public procurement (Minmap) has made public an international tender restricted to 10 companies and groups of companies, for the realization of studies in Douala, with the construction of a third bridge on the Wouri River.

The companies invited to bid, includes two Tunisian groups (Scet-Tunisie-Didon Conseil et Comete-Luxan), the french Bet Louis Berger, and Cameroonian companies such as Ecta BTP, Egis-Cameroon, Sadeg, Beta Consult and Integc, all in consortium with other foreign companies.

According to the Government, the companies will have to perform a feasibility study for ongoing projects in Douala and construction of a third bridge over the Wouri which integrates the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the site.

Bidders are required to post a bond of 35 million Cfa francs, and to pay 500,000 CFA francs for the purchase of the tender file. The final winner of this market will take 26 months to run it, and receives an envelope of approximately 1.8 billion Fcfa.