Three months after the inaugural EFRACAM summit held in Yaounde, Elig-Mfomo, Kribi, and Douala, the capital of Gironde has officially moved from words to action.
From October 7 to 9, 2026, the city of Bordeaux became a major hub for Franco-Cameroonian relations as it hosted two key delegations from South Cameroon and the Autonomous Port of Kribi – PAK.
On behalf of Thomas Cazenave, Mayor of Bordeaux and President of Bordeaux Métropole, the host delegation was led by Pierre De Gaétan Njikam, Deputy Mayor, Vice President of the Métropole in charge of European and International Cooperation, and President of EFRACAM.
The initiative brought together two distinct Cameroonian delegations: the Regional Council of the South, led by its President Gervais Ndo, and a technical mission from the Autonomous Port of Kribi, headed by Christophe Bengono, Technical Advisor to the General Manager of PAK.
Despite their different domains, both delegations shared a single objective: to implement the strategic commitments made during the first phase of EFRACAM in Cameroon last July. This follow-up meeting in France demonstrated how decentralized cooperation can transcend standard declarations of intent to produce direct and measurable results for local territories.
For the South Region of Cameroon, the working sessions focused heavily on sustainable coastal management and regional economic enhancement. Discussions prioritized coastal economy strategies, including resilient aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, and seaside tourism development.
Additionally, delegates analyzed legal frameworks and public-private partnership models to strengthen environmental protection against ecological damage, while also laying the foundation for an educational partnership linking secondary schools across both regions.
On the maritime front, discussions between Bordeaux authorities and the Autonomous Port of Kribi entered a fully operational phase, built on earlier exchanges with Renaud Picard, Deputy General Manager of the Port of Bordeaux. The partners outlined clear trade synergies to streamline raw material exchanges between the ports.
Furthermore, they modeled urban-port integration strategies based on the French tri-port framework of Bordeaux, La Rochelle, and Bayonne to clarify and improve the functional complementarity between Cameroon’s ports in Kribi and Douala.
Supported by the International Association of Cities and Ports – AIVP, the partnership also aims to secure joint investments and elevate Kribi’s positioning as a strategic hub on international shipping routes. By consolidating these ties in the heart of Bordeaux Métropole, the EFRACAM framework has proven that targeted territorial diplomacy can yield long-term benefits in urban planning, economic development, and environmental governance for both nations.
