Benchmark Study Visit: PAK Shares Best Practices
Benchmark Study Visit: PAK Shares Best Practices
Knowledge exchange with Cotonou and Antwerp to strengthen port performance
The Port Authority of Kribi hosted an international delegation to exchange expertise on port governance, concessions, and operational efficiency.
On Monday, March 30, 2026, the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) welcomed a delegation of experts from the Port of Cotonou and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, as part of a benchmarking visit focused on port practices.
The delegation, composed of six specialists—including legal experts and port estate managers from Cotonou, as well as analysts and consultants from Antwerp—aimed to foster experience sharing and identify best practices in concessions management, commercial operations, legal frameworks, and land use planning.
The visit began with a guided tour of port facilities, highlighting the multipurpose terminal and the industrial zone. This immersion allowed participants to assess the port’s operational capabilities, including quay length, storage areas, water depth across tidal conditions, vessel waiting times at anchorage, and internal and external transshipment mechanisms.
A stop at the multipurpose terminal provided a closer look at infrastructure, followed by a motorized tour of the industrial zone, showcasing the site’s economic dynamism through companies already established and their respective activities.
The working session continued at the Emergence building, where the Director of Operations, Franck Ipoua, delivered opening remarks, welcoming participants and outlining the objectives of the visit. This was followed by a presentation from Martial Nguele, Head of the Port Estate, Monitoring, and Control Department, who detailed the concession monitoring framework, including legal aspects, procedures for transferring industrial and commercial activities, and internal oversight mechanisms.
The discussion session generated in-depth exchanges, particularly on the digitalization of revenue control and billing models, including both fixed and variable fees based on turnover. A representative from Antwerp highlighted the modernity of Kribi’s approach, noting its results-driven concession model and encouraging further digitalization of related processes.
From the Cotonou delegation, insights focused on the diversity of legal frameworks and operational similarities between institutions, emphasizing how regulatory environments shape revenue collection mechanisms and governance structures.
The visit concluded with an audience granted to the delegation by the Director General of PAK, Patrice Melom, followed by a working lunch.
Beyond technical exchanges, this meeting reflects PAK’s commitment to openness, benchmarking, and continuous improvement, driven by strategic partnerships with leading international ports.
