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  • Urban Co-operative Banks Expand Credit Role as Outstanding Balances Almost Double in Five Years

    Feb 13: Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) are strengthening their position in India’s credit ecosystem, supported by steady balance growth, improving asset quality, and rising demand across both retail and small business segments.

    Outstanding credit balances of UCBs stood at ₹3.4 lakh crore as of September 2025, representing a 1.9x increase over the last five years, according to Sahakaar Trends, a joint publication by the National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) and TransUnion CIBIL, India’s pioneer information and insights company.

    While UCBs continue to hold a modest share of overall industry credit at around 1.8%, the data shows a system that is expanding in scale while adapting to changing borrower profiles, competitive dynamics, and regulatory expectations.

    “UCBs are expanding more widely into Bharat, extending formal credit beyond large urban centres to households and small businesses in semi-urban and emerging regions. Their proximity to local communities allows them to serve borrowers where local context and relationships matter, helping bring more of Bharat into the formal credit system. As these banks expand their reach across retail and small-business lending, sustaining credit quality while broadening access will remain central to their role in supporting more balanced and inclusive economic participation,” said Mr. Bhavesh Jain, MD and CEO, TransUnion CIBIL.

    “The expanding credit footprint of UCBs reflects strong borrower trust, particularly in semi-urban and emerging regions where access to formal credit remains critical. As these banks scale up, the focus must remain on strengthening institutional capacity, improving operational efficiency, and building resilient governance frameworks. Supporting UCBs through this transition is essential to ensuring that their growth continues to translate into meaningful financial participation and long-term economic stability,” said Shri Prabhat Chaturvedi, CEO, NUCFDC.

    UCB Lending Remains Concentrated in Eight Core Products

    Commercial loans, housing loans, retail business loans, loan against property, gold loans, personal loans, auto loans and loans against bank deposits dominate UCB balance sheets. As of September 2025, these products together accounted for nearly 83% of UCBs’ total outstanding balances, reflecting a continued emphasis on collateral-backed retail lending and credit to small enterprises.

    The average housing loan ticket sizes for UCBs stood at around ₹23 lakh, compared to ₹26 lakh for housing finance companies. For gold loans, the average ticket size is ₹1.3 lakh for UCBs, compared to ₹2.3 lakh for PSU banks. In contrast, average commercial loan ticket sizes for UCBs were approximately ₹50 lakh, higher than ₹37 lakh for Public Sector Banks (PSUs), while personal loan ticket sizes averaged about ₹4.7 lakh, compared to ₹2 lakh for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

    Gold Loans Present Growth Opportunity for UCBs

    Gold loans account for about 5% of UCBs’ overall credit portfolio. Although they cater to a relatively higher share of below-prime borrowers in this segment compared with PSU banks, credit performance indicators have improved, with the balance-level delinquencies, measured as balances 90 days past due or more, declining steadily in recent periods.

    Commercial Loans Account for Largest Share of UCBs’ Portfolio

    Commercial loans account for the largest share of the total outstanding balances for UCBs, as of September 2025. Indexed to September 2020 as 100, enquiry-level data shows a sharper rise in commercial loan demand for UCBs by September 2025.

    While UCBs recorded a higher conversion rate from enquiry to origination compared with PSU banks during the three months ended June 2025, the pace of disbursement remains slower, with 45% of originations disbursed within 15 days, compared with 61% for PSU banks. UCBs also cater to a higher share of entities with credit exposure exceeding ₹1 crore and also have a higher share of low-risk borrowers at 49% compared to 45% medium-risk borrowers and 6% high-risk borrowers1.

    Housing Loan Demand Higher in Metro and Semi-Urban Regions

    Housing loans constitute the second largest share of total outstanding balances for UCBs. Demand for housing loans has remained stable with UCBs recording 2x growth in the last five years attracting younger consumers, women, and New-to-Credit borrowers. Additionally, the growth has also been greater in urban and semi-urban regions.

    The credit performance for housing loans has improved, with 90+ DPD balance-level delinquencies falling to 2.8% as of September 2025, from 3.2% in September 2024.

    Customer Profile of Personal Loan Borrowers Has Improved for UCBs

    Personal loan demand at UCBs has strengthened in recent periods. UCBs recorded higher conversion rates for personal loan enquiries at 39%, compared to 22% for NBFCs during the three months ended August 2025, although only 42% of these loans were disbursed within five days, compared with 68% for NBFCs. Additionally, the balance-level delinquencies for personal loans have steadily improved for UCBs and have been consistent for recent periods. The personal loan delinquencies (90+ DPD) declined from about 4.5% in September 2020 to approximately 2.1% by September 2025.

    Opportunity Exists for UCBs to Expand Credit Reach

    The data also points to a gap in portfolio deepening. As of March 2025, UCBs had approximately 30 lakh live retail borrowers, of which around 1.7 lakh, or about 6%, also had a commercial credit footprint. During April to September 2025, nearly 3,000 such borrowers sourced new commercial loans from PSU banks, with total sanctioned amounts of about ₹724 crore, including approximately ₹442 crore extended to low- and medium-risk borrowers.

    Overall, the sustained growth of UCBs reflects a sector that is strengthening its balance sheets while accelerating efforts to modernise its operations and risk frameworks. Backed by improving asset quality, disciplined credit expansion, and rising adoption of technology‑enabled processes, UCBs are increasingly well positioned to serve their core constituencies with greater efficiency and resilience.

    “As UCBs continue to balance their community-rooted strengths with data‑led decisioning and regulatory alignment, they are set to play an increasingly meaningful role in supporting inclusive economic growth and deepening formal credit penetration across India’s urban and semi‑urban landscape,” Mr. Jain said.

  • Wordly Launches Workspaces, Taking Multilingual Communication Beyond Keynotes into Everyday Business Operations

    Los Altos, CA – Feb 13 – Wordly, the pioneer in live AI translation and captioning, today launched Workspaces, a major expansion of its platform that enables event organizers to deliver real-time AI translation and captions consistently across conferences, keynotes, workshops, and everyday business operations. One account brings Wordly to every department, providing secure, scalable language access and expanding inclusion company-wide. The launch is backed by ISO 27001 certification and a refreshed brand identity, centered on the tagline: “Never miss a word.”

    “Inclusion and accessibility shouldn’t end when the last session wraps,” said Lakshman Rathnam, Founder & CEO of Wordly. “Workspaces gives event organizers the control to extend language access beyond the conference, ensuring the same experience continues across planning meetings, trainings, and everyday operations.”

    Never Miss a Word: Scaling AI Across Conferences and Daily Operations

    Workspaces allows organizations to move beyond one-off events and implement Wordly across every department, everywhere. It provides centralized control and ensures organizations never miss a word by moving seamlessly from conference keynote session to daily meetings and training without adding new tools, licenses, or large expenses. The platform makes it easy for organizations to deploy AI translation and captions across:

    • Internal Operations: Town halls, sales kickoffs (SKOs), employee onboarding, and HR training.
    • External Engagement: Industry conferences, customer webinars, board meetings, and investor communications.
    • Daily Workflows: Facility tours, project standups, cross functional collaboration, and employee interviews.

    “Together, these milestones reflect Wordly evolving from a specialized event tool into an essential enterprise solution,” Rathnam added. “Workspaces supports global, multilingual organizations across large-scale conferences and daily business operations, meeting the growing expectation for live translation and captions from employees, customers, and attendees alike.”

    Built for Security, Trust, and Scale

    As Wordly expands across large-scale conferences and enterprise events, security remains a top priority for event organizers and their teams. Wordly has achieved ISO 27001 certification, in addition to SOC 2 Type II compliance, the global standards for information security, giving organizers confidence that attendee data, session content, and event communications are protected to the highest international standards.

    A Brand Refresh for a Global Image

    To reflect its expanded vision, Wordly has unveiled a refreshed visual identity and streamlined website, making it easier for organizations to select the right solutions.

    “Our new brand reflects the Wordly mission to bridge language barriers and accessibility hurdles,” said Dave Deasy, CMO at Wordly. “As we expand from supporting large events to also powering daily operations, our platform remains powerful, secure, and easy to use for organizations of any size.”

    Wordly Workspaces is available now for all clients.

  • DSP Asset Managers Launches Multi-Year Scholarship for PGP YL at Indian School of Business

    Feb, 13 : The Indian School of Business (ISB) has announced the DSP Scholarship Programme for students of its Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders (PGP YL), supported by a multi-year CSR gift from DSP Asset Managers Private Limited (DSPAM). The need-cum merit scholarship will provide 100% tuition fee waivers to recipients over multiple years, beginning with the current academic year.

    Under the DSP Scholarship Programme, two PGP YL students from the current class will be supported, followed subsequently by five students each year. This sustained commitment reflects DSPAM’s focus on enabling access to high-quality management education for talented young individuals at an early stage of their academic and professional journeys.

    The MoU for this scholarship was exchanged in the presence of Aditi Kothari Desai, Chairperson, DSP Asset Managers Private Limited; Dean Madan Pillutla; Kalpen Parekh, Managing Director & CEO, DSP Mutual Fund; and DNV Kumara Guru, Senior Director – Advancement, Alumni Engagement and External Relations, ISB.

    The PGP YL is ISB’s early-entry management programme, designed to nurture high-potential students through a rigorous, globally benchmarked curriculum and immersive learning experiences. By easing financial constraints, the DSP Scholarship Programme will enable recipients to focus fully on their academic development, leadership growth, and long-term aspirations.

    Commenting on the initiative, Aditi Kothari Desai, Chairperson, DSP Asset Managers Private Limited, said

    “At DSP, we strongly believe that leadership development begins early, and that access to high-quality education should never be limited by financial constraints. Through this multi-year scholarship program with ISB, we are investing in young leaders at a formative stage of their journey, enabling them to focus on learning, self-discovery, and long-term impact. This initiative reflects our commitment to building a strong and inclusive foundation for future leadership in India.”

    Adding to this, Ravi Patodi, Head – Human Resources, DSP Asset Managers, said

    “The scholarship program with ISB reflects DSP’s long-standing belief that access to quality education can shape long-term outcomes for individuals and for institutions. We see this as an investment in potential at a formative stage of leadership development. Our continued engagement with educational initiatives, including our support for the MVBS Hostel in Dadar which provides boarding and scholarship assistance to college students, stems from the same philosophy enabling talent with continuity, care, and a long-term perspective.”

    Welcoming the support from DSPAM, Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, Indian School of Business, said

    The DSP Scholarship Program adds to ISB’s growing portfolio of merit and need-based scholarships for the recently launched PGP YL, reinforcing the School’s commitment to inclusion and access as it prepares the next generation of responsible business leaders.

  • Alvarez & Marsal Strengthens Disputes & Investigations Team with Tanmay Bhargav Appointment

    New Delhi, Feb 13: Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) India has announced the appointment of Tanmay Bhargav as Managing Director within its Disputes and Investigations practice. This strategic addition reflects A&M’s commitment to deepening its expertise in complex investigations, dispute advisory and antitrust matters.

    With over 24 years of experience across forensic services, infrastructure advisory, regulatory matters, and financial services, Mr. Bhargav specializes in disputes, investigations, fraud risk management, governance and compliance, and construction and infrastructure matters. He has provided expert witness testimony related to shareholder disputes, computation of claims for loss of profits, business interruption, business valuation, and consumer claims, among others.

    Mr. Bhargav has led high-stakes investigations involving fraud, corruption, financial misstatements, and regulatory enforcement, working closely with regulators, law enforcement agencies, and the Competition Commission.

    Prior to joining A&M, he was a Partner at KPMG in India, where he led forensic services for infrastructure and antitrust matters. He holds a Master’s in Finance from the London Business School and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

    Himanshu Bajaj, Managing Director & Head – A&M India and GCC, said,

    “As organizations face increasing regulatory scrutiny and complex enforcement environments, they need seasoned advisors who can navigate disputes and investigations with rigor, independence, and credibility. Tanmay’s expertise across investigations, disputes, and regulatory matters will further strengthen A&M’s ability to help clients manage risk, uphold governance, and ensure compliance.”

    Dhruv Phophalia, Managing Director and Head of A&M’s Disputes and Investigations practice in India, added,

    “Tanmay’s appointment underscores A&M’s commitment to supporting clients across high-stakes investigations and dispute resolution. His deep sector knowledge and experience with regulatory bodies will enhance our ability to provide clients with pragmatic, defensible solutions.”

    Tanmay Bhargav, Managing Director, A&M India, said,

    “The growing complexity of disputes and investigations in India has made robust governance and risk management a boardroom priority. A&M’s practical, hands-on approach and strong operational focus provide a powerful platform to support organizations in addressing these challenges. I am excited to join A&M and contribute to helping clients manage risk, resolve disputes, and strengthen governance and compliance across industries.”

  • DDA Green Expo 2026 Set to Outline Climate-First Vision for Urban India

    New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is set to host the first-ever DDA Green Expo 2026 on 14–15 February 2026 at Baansera, New Delhi, bringing together senior government leaders, urban planners, climate experts and industry stakeholders to shape the next phase of sustainable urban development in India.

    Inspired by the vision of Lt Governor Delhi Shri V K Saxena for Green Delhi, the expo is anchored around the theme ‘Beyond Growth: Reimagining Urban Futures.’ The Expo will focus on how Indian cities can transition from expansion-led development models toward climate resilience, ecological restoration and people-centric planning.

    The two-day summit will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Lt Governor, who will also deliver the key-note address. The welcome address to be given by Shri N. Saravana Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority.

    Designed as a strategic solution -driven national platform, the Expo will feature high-impact panel discussions and expert sessions addressing some of the most pressing urban challenges, including extreme heat, flood resilience, nature-based infrastructure, circular food systems and innovative financing for green cities.

    Some of the eminent speakers include Mr. Anand Kumar, Chairman, RERA; Smt. Inoshi Sharma, Additional Director General, NADT RC; Shri P. Karthikeyan, Joint Director of FSSAI; Professor Sony Pellissery, Director of the Institute of Public Policy as well as Ms. Sarika Chakravarty, Director of Implementation (South and West Asia), C40 Cities.

    A special fireside conversation featuring renowned environmental leaders Swami Prem Parivartan (Peepal Baba) and Ramveer Tanwar, the ‘Pond Man of India,’ will explore how community action and behavioural change can play a critical role in restoring urban ecosystems.

    DDA is formalising strategic partnerships with leading national institutions to deepen Delhi’s green and cultural ecosystem. Collaborations with the National Medicinal Plants Board will support herbal gardens, medicinal nurseries, and biodiversity conservation across DDA parks.

    With the National School of Drama, DDA will launch RangBaag, a community theatre initiative for children in park spaces. A comprehensive partnership with the University of Delhi will advance urban ecological research and youth engagement, while work with WWF will establish Citizens’ Nature Hubs promoting environmental learning and action.

    Similarly, the collaboration with Delhi Technological University will strengthen DDA’s commitment towards research and development in the field of ecology, sustainability, technology driven solutions while incorporating young professionals in planning and execution.

    There is also collaboration with Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA). The proposed collaboration seeks DDA’s guidance, knowledge sharing, and technical insight across a broad spectrum of areas in Mathura-Vrindavan, including but not limited to:

    Urban built environment improvements, public realm enhancement, and sustainable materials.

    Among the flagship discussions is “Building Climate-Ready Cities Through Nature-Based Infrastructure,” which will examine how urban forests, restored floodplains and biodiversity corridors can function as essential climate infrastructure.

    Another key session, “Responding to Urban Heat: Policy, Planning and Public Health,” will bring together climate resilience and health experts to explore integrated approaches linking urban design, Heat Action Plans and healthcare preparedness.

    Senior policymakers and development leaders will also participate in the panel “Designing for Climate-Responsive Cities,” focusing on energy-efficient urban design, climate-adaptive public spaces and resilient infrastructure.

    The Expo will also spotlight emerging sustainability priorities such as urban food circularity, balancing development with ecological conservation, and scalable financing models for green infrastructure, including CSR and public-private partnerships. The Expo will showcase innovations in urban greening, water management, waste solutions and climate-resilient design.

    With participation from senior government officials, global institutions, academia, industry and civil society, the DDA Green Expo 2026 is expected to emerge as a landmark national forum

    for advancing climate-responsive urban development in India.

  • NDDB, IDF Ink Pact to Host World Dairy Summit 2027 in India

    New Delhi, Feb 13: Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); Board Member, International Dairy Federation (IDF) & Member Secretary, Indian National Committee of IDF and Ms. Laurence Rycken, Director General, IDF, exchanged an agreement on 12 February 2026 in New Delhi to host the IDF World Dairy Summit 2027 in India. 

    The agreement exchange took place in the gracious presence of Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, and Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, at the Indian Dairy Association’s 52nd Dairy Industry Conference.

    The Summit will be organised by the INC-IDF at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, from 16 to 19 November 2027.

    The agenda will include meetings of the IDF Board, the General Assembly, and various technical committees. The event is expected to attract over 1,500 delegates from across the globe, representing a majority of the international dairy market. Attendees will include policymakers, dairy farmers, cooperatives, processors, researchers, financial institutions, start-ups, and technology providers.

    At the 118th General Assembly held on 14 October 2024 in Paris, members voted in favour of India hosting the World Dairy Summit 2027. India previously hosted the IDF WDS in 2022 in Delhi-NCR, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.

    The IDF World Dairy Summit (WDS) is the flagship annual event of the IDF. It serves as a global platform for stakeholders to review the world dairy situation, discuss technical and policy issues, and align on strategic directions for the sector. The IDF is an International Non-Governmental Organisation that has been uniting the global dairy community since its inception in 1903, with about 40 member nations.

  • Vegas Mall Welcomes Kraus Jeans to Its Fashion Destination Portfolio

    Delhi, Feb 13: Vegas Mall, the premier fashion, lifestyle, entertainment and dining destination in Dwarka, is excited to announce the grand opening of Kraus Jeans on the 2nd floor. This new addition further elevates Vegas Mall’s curated fashion mix and offers shoppers an expanded range of premium, trend-driven denim and casualwear options.

    Kraus Jeans, known for its high-quality denim and stylish fits for women, brings an exciting new shopping experience to fashion-savvy customers visiting Vegas Mall. The brand’s latest collection — featuring a variety of fits, washes, and styles will now be accessible to the mall’s diverse clientele right in the heart of Dwarka.

    “We are delighted to welcome Kraus Jeans to the Vegas Mall family,” said Ravinder Choudhary, Vice-President, Vegas Mall. “Fashion is at the core of what we offer here, and Kraus Jeans’ entry underscores our commitment to bringing both established and emerging brands to our shoppers. With the continued growth of our fashion portfolio, we aim to provide even more choices and a superior shopping experience for visitors from Dwarka and beyond.”

    Vegas Mall continues to be a go-to destination for discerning shoppers, housing a wide range of national and international apparel brands, lifestyle outlets, entertainment venues and dining options under one roof. The opening of Kraus Jeans aligns with the mall’s ongoing strategy to enrich the retail experience and meet evolving customer preferences.

  • GAIL Limited Showcases High CNG Mileage Through Rally in Bhubaneswar

    Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: GAIL (India) Limited organised a CNG promotion event in Bhubaneswar under the National PNG Drive 2.0 initiative. The programme aimed to demonstrate the performance and fuel efficiency benefits of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles through a real-world driving exercise.

    As part of the event, around 50 CNG vehicles participated in a rally covering the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Bhubaneswar route. The rally was conducted smoothly, with fuel support provided for the entire trip. The enthusiastic participation reflected the growing consumer interest in cleaner and more economical fuel alternatives.

    During the rally, vehicle mileage was closely monitored to assess actual on-road performance. Three drivers who achieved the highest mileage were felicitated at the conclusion of the event. The objective of the rally was to demonstrate that CNG-powered Tour variant vehicles can deliver mileage exceeding 35 kilometres per kilogram.

    The results of the rally validated this objective, with the top-performing drivers recording mileage figures of approximately 40 kilometres per kilogram of CNG. The event successfully highlighted the efficiency and viability of CNG as a sustainable and cost-effective automotive fuel, reinforcing GAIL (India) Limited’s commitment to promoting cleaner energy solutions.

  • Poland in Focus at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival

    Bengaluru | Feb 13- The 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes 2026) proudly presented Poland as its Focus Country, celebrating a vibrant showcase of Polish cinema and strengthening cultural ties between Poland and India.

    The festival opened in Bengaluru with distinguished guests, including the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who welcomed the delegation from Poland and underscored his appreciation for the country’s rich cinematic heritage. Also present were Ms. Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Polish Institute in New Delhi, and Mr. Raghu Rajappa, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Bengaluru.

    Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak at the Opening Ceremony of the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival

    A highlight of this year’s programme was a Centenary Tribute Retrospective dedicated to the legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda, whose decades-long career profoundly shaped global cinema. Landmark works such as Kanal, Ashes and Diamonds, The Promised Land, Man of Marble, Maids of Wilko and Afterimage were presented, offering Indian audiences a rare and immersive journey into Wajda’s visionary body of work.

    Complementing this retrospective was a carefully curated selection of contemporary Polish films, introducing festivalgoers to the vitality and diversity of modern Polish filmmaking. Featured titles included Chopin, Chopin (dir. M. Kwieciński), Franz (dir. Agnieszka Holland), Under the Volcano (dir. Damian Kocur) — Poland’s official Oscar entry — and the acclaimed documentary Letters from Wolf Street.

    The Polish delegation also enriched the festival’s professional programme. Ms. Joanna Łapińska, Artistic Director of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, served as a jury member for the Asian Cinema Competition, while director Damian Kocur led a Directing Masterclass titled From Short Films to First Features: Finding a Language. The masterclass explored creative process, narrative voice, and cinematic storytelling for emerging filmmakers.

    A special panel discussion, Polish Cinema and the Andrzej Wajda Legacy: Art, History, Cinema and Identity, was held on January 30, bringing together scholars and practitioners to reflect on cinema as a medium of cultural memory, social history, and artistic expression. The session highlighted the enduring impact of Polish cinema on audiences worldwide.

    One of the festival’s most heartfelt moments came with the screening of Letters from Wolf Street, a documentary by Indian-born filmmaker Arjun Talwar. The film — set on a one-kilometre street in Warsaw — explores themes of migration, identity, and belonging, resonating deeply with viewers and emphasizing cinema’s power to bridge cultures.

    By bringing together the timeless legacy of Poland’s cinematic giants and the innovative voices of contemporary filmmakers, BIFFes 2026 offered audiences a rich, panoramic view of Polish cinema — past, present, and future. 

  • AD Ports Group Joins Africa Ports Development’s (APD) 30-Year Concession for the New Dry Bulk Terminal in Douala Port – Cameroon

    Abu Dhabi, UAE – Feb 12: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of trade, logistics, and industry solutions, has joined Africa Ports Development’s (APD) 30-year concession to design, build and operate a new dry bulk terminal at the Port of Douala in the Republic of Cameroon.

    The agreement establishes an investment structure, in which AD Ports Group together with two other UAE investors own 60% of the operating company alongside Africa Ports Development LTD’s 40% ownership, implying an effective economic interest of 51% for AD Ports Group.

    Based on the ownership of this investment structure AD Ports Group’s share of investment is expected to be around AED 320 million (EUR 73.4 million), for the development of phase 1 of the dry bulk terminal, which comprises 2 berths and approximately 450 metres of quay wall, with an annual handling capacity of around 4 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo, such as clinker, gypsum, fertiliser, and grain.

    Construction is expected to take place between 2026 and 2028, in close collaboration with the Port Authority of Douala, to address strong and sustained demand at Cameroon’s principal maritime gateway. 

    Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO – AD Ports Group, said: “This agreement represents a strategically important expansion of AD Ports Group’s presence in Africa and reinforces our commitment to developing high-impact maritime infrastructure in high-growth markets, in line with the vision of our wise leadership. The Douala dry bulk terminal will enhance trade resilience, support industrial development, and strengthen Cameroon’s role as a gateway to Central Africa.”

    Al Menhali added: “Through our partnership with Africa Ports Development, we are combining local market expertise with AD Ports Group’s global capabilities in port development and operations to support the Port Authority of Douala’s plans to modernise and enhance Douala Port, enabling regional trade and long-term economic growth. We commend the Port Authority for the significant progress achieved in recent years, which has driven strong growth in Cameroon’s maritime sector, and we look forward to contributing further to its long-term development ambitions.

     

    Marc Tabchy, Managing Partner of Africa Ports Development, said: “We are honoured to bring this partnership to life with AD Ports Group, a global reference that shares our firm belief in this project, in Cameroon, and in the potential of the African continent. Building upon the opportunity provided by the Port Authority of Douala’s modernisation and specialisation initiatives, this collaboration establishes a strategic synergy combining our group’s ambition and regional depth with AD Ports Group’s operational excellence.”

     

    Located at the Port of Douala, the largest maritime port in Cameroon, which handles the majority of the country’s bulk imports, and serves as a critical transit hub for landlocked Central African markets, the new terminal will strengthen regional supply chains and enhance the efficiency of key cargo flows. The new terminal will also benefit from strong hinterland connectivity, linking Douala with major industrial centres and regional trade corridors across Central Africa.

    AD Ports Group continues to expand its footprint across Africa, building on established investments and operations in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo, reinforcing its position as a preferred partner for trade, logistics, and trade-enabling infrastructure across the continent.