At 13:00 local time on March 13, the Cameroonian Ministry of Transport, representing the Republic of Cameroon, and SONGUO MOTORS held a signing ceremony for the Cameroon Taxi Project. Attendees included representatives of the Prime Minister, government officials, and the inter-ministerial working group comprising 10 departments such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, and Customs Authority, as well as representatives from professional transport organizations.
In his speech, Mr. Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibéhè, Minister of Transport, reviewed the project's journey, from proposal and technical meetings to on-site testing of prototype vehicles, evaluations by automotive experts and the ministry’s technical team to assess suitability for Cameroon’s conditions, approval by the state, and finally the signing. He highlighted progress made through collaborations with municipal committees, including the National Public Health Department’s procurement of tricycle ambulances for remote areas..
"All this inevitably reflects the project’s significance," he said. "His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic, has approved the legal documents for its implementation in Cameroon, demonstrating the Republic’s high-level endorsement." "We thank SONGUO MOTORS for choosing Cameroon as a beneficiary of this project, which will modernize urban taxi transport and significantly impact the country’s socio-economic development. All members of the inter-ministerial working group will spare no effort to advance each phase. We remain steadfast in our support."
Following the ceremony, Tim Shin, President of SONGUO MOTORS, gave interviews to local media. According to the work plan, Phase One will involve the import of 8,000 vehicles adapted to Cameroon’s socio-economic environment, supported by the government, to better meet public mobility and transport needs. Phase Two will establish a KD assembly plant in Cameroon to produce taxis, pickup trucks, ambulances, tricycles, and other vehicles. The goal is to ensure a stable domestic supply while providing technical support to accelerate localization in Cameroon’s automotive industry. International observers note that this partnership will generate positive economic and social impacts, aligning with the Cameroonian government’s vision to modernize urban transport infrastructure and services.
