“Service quality: pledge of competitiveness of Cameroon ports”. National and international stakeholders in the maritime transport sector convened around this theme from 13 to 15 January 2020 in Limbé, as part of the National Maritime and Port Days (JMPN). The meeting was an initiative of the National Port Authority (APN), now in its 3rd edition. Jean Ernest Masséna NGALLE BIBEHE, Minister of Transports (MINT) presided over the official opening ceremony as representative of the Prime Minister, Head of Government. An important delegation of PAK led by the General Manager Patrice MELOM actively participated in this major event. For instance, the Operations Manager Michael MAMA received thunderous applause from the audience at the end of a brilliant presentation of the vision of the Port of Kribi, including the extension of current facilities, complete digitization and corridor smoothness. During this edition, as shown by the main theme, the focus was on examining the need to improve quality service in Cameroon ports so as to boost their competitiveness and consolidate their contribution to the growth of the country’s economy on a sustainable basis.

In addition, choosing Limbe to host the vent this year has a twofold objective:

• Explaining the extent of the potential of the national port offer;
• Presenting Limbe as a major and strategic economic hub for Cameroon’s growth as the project to create a Port Authority of Limbe is in the pipeline.

Throughout the event, experts delved into three main avenues that will help to understand the issues raised.

Avenue 1- Update on the state of services in the ports of Cameroon through an assessment of pricing policies; the duration of customs clearance procedures; the role of institutional stakeholders in the chain of procedures for obtaining maritime and port services as well as the effectiveness of policies for the paperless procedures.

Avenue 2 – Presentation of the public policy regulatory framework which govern maritime and port services in Cameroon. The aim was to shed light on Cameroon's vision in this area as compared to developments underway in other countries.

Avenue 3 – The way forward, through the opinions of the various stakeholders and the publication of a manual of procedures that would significantly improve service quality and, consequently, the competitiveness of Cameroon ports.