Cameroon, Germany Discuss Maritime Cooperation

 By Brenda Yufeh, Cameroon Tribune, 02-08-2013

The Minister of Transport granted audience to the German Ambassador on July 31.

Germany’s Ambassador to Cameroon, Klaus-Ludwig Keferstein, has discussed specific topics related to maritime transport with Cameroon. This was during a 30-minute audience last July 31 granted by the Minister of Transport, Robert Nkili to the German Ambassador.

Both personalities also discussed the interest of protecting the maritime transport in the Gulf of Guinea which Ambassador Klaus-Ludwig Keferstein said was a subject of keen interest last month during the summit of Heads of State of the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS and the Gulf of Guinea Commission on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea.

The German Diplomat said German companies who have ships going through the Gulf of Guinea have encountered problems of security in the area. Thus, these companies wish to protect their ships through internal measures.

The German Ambassador also talked about the building of a “Foyer du Marin” guest house which is an institution run by the German Protestant Church. Klaus-Ludwig Keferstein said such a house already exist in Douala for over a long time and is operating successfully.  As such, the German Protestant Church wishes to build another one around the Kribi Seaport upon completion.

The audience was an opportunity for the German Ambassador in Cameroon to present the candidacy of Germany for the Council of the International Maritime Organisation. Ambassador Klaus-Ludwig Keferstein told pressmen; “I was pleased to receive the support of Cameroon through the words of the Minister of Transport”