Douala

Douala is the largest city and economic capital of Cameroon, located in the Littoral region on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. With a population exceeding three-million, it serves as the country's principal commercial and industrial hub. The city is home to Cameroon's busiest port, the Port of Douala, which handles the majority of the nation's maritime trade and serves as a critical gateway for landlocked neighbouring countries including Chad and the Central African Republic. Douala's economy is driven by manufacturing, logistics, petroleum refining, food processing and financial services. The city hosts the headquarters of major Cameroonian and international companies operating across West and Central Africa. Its strategic position and infrastructure make it the primary entry point for imports and exports in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community region. Douala is connected to the interior by the national railway network operated by Camrail, linking the port to mining and agricultural zones. The city's Douala International Airport is the busiest in Cameroon and a key regional aviation hub. Founded as a trading post by the Duala people, Douala grew rapidly under German and later French colonial administration, evolving into the economic engine of modern Cameroon.