Cameroon has entrusted the Chinese construction giant China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) with the first phase of a sweeping modernization plan for Douala International Airport.
Valued at 10.4 billion CFA francs, the new contract marks the official start of work on the airport’s pavements, aiming to boost the operational capacity of the nation’s main air hub while maintaining uninterrupted traffic. The initiative is part of a larger 66 billion CFA francs program designed to overhaul Cameroon’s transport infrastructure.
The project’s first phase will focus on the extension and rehabilitation of the runways and aprons at Douala International Airport.
CHEC will carry out earthworks, upgrade the technical networks, and install new surfaces compliant with international aviation standards.
In addition, the airport’s signaling and lighting systems will be modernized to ensure continuous safety throughout the renovation process.
Authorities have emphasized that this effort is central to transforming Douala into a competitive air hub for Central Africa. A source close to the project highlighted that the operation is fully aligned with the government’s commitment to upgrading key infrastructure. Further details on financing arrangements are expected soon, with the government likely to release an official statement on the matter.
For over a decade, China has been a pivotal partner in Cameroon’s infrastructure development. A number of landmark projects across the country already bear the hallmark of Chinese engineering firms. Many of these ventures have been funded through Chinese concessional loans, which have helped reshape Cameroon’s economic landscape and deepen bilateral ties between Yaoundé and Beijing.
China’s expanding presence is attributed to its companies’ ability to deliver large-scale, turnkey infrastructure projects at competitive costs—though often with limited local skill transfer. This approach has sparked ongoing debate about Central Africa’s growing financial and technical dependence on Beijing.
In the case of the Douala project, however, Cameroonian authorities insist that CHEC was chosen based on “competence and proven experience” in major airport construction works. The project is expected to set a new standard for aviation infrastructure in the region once completed.
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