AGL Cameroon Adds 500 Jobs Since 2023 as Logistics Investment Accelerates

Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Cameroon and its subsidiaries, Socopao and Plateforme polyvalente de Kribi (PPK), now employ 1,240 people after hiring more than 500 workers since 2023, a workforce increase of nearly 68% in three years.

The company announced the figures on July 24 during a ceremony in Douala where 300 employees received labor medals for long service. Cameroon’s Minister of Labor and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, presided over the event. The hiring reflects AGL’s broader expansion strategy, which combines workforce growth with investments in infrastructure, equipment and the modernization of logistics operations.

The company’s employment gains, however, will ultimately be measured not only by the number of jobs created but also by the quality, stability and skill level of those positions.

More Than CFA45 Billion Invested or Planned

According to AGL Cameroon Managing Director Thibaut Lamé, the increase in staffing has accompanied a sustained investment cycle. Between 2023 and 2025, the logistics company says it invested more than CFA25 billion to expand the container terminal at the Port of Kribi and acquire new equipment, including vehicles and cargo-handling machinery.

For 2026, AGL has raised its investment target to more than CFA20 billion to support further growth in Cameroon. Combined, investments completed between 2023 and 2025 and those planned for 2026 exceed CFA45 billion.

The company says the new hires are linked to infrastructure upgrades, digitalization and efforts to improve service quality. It presents the workforce expansion as one outcome of its broader operational transformation, which comes as the Port of Kribi expands its capacity and the country’s logistics sector continues to modernize.

That does not necessarily mean employment will continue growing at the same pace as investment. More advanced equipment and digital systems can increase demand for highly skilled technicians while reducing the need for some manual or repetitive jobs.

Long-Service Awards Highlight Workforce Retention

The recruitment announcement coincided with the presentation of labor medals to 300 employees, an award that traditionally recognizes long service and career longevity.

By highlighting both the recent hiring campaign and the long-serving employees, AGL seeks to present itself as a company that is creating new jobs while retaining experienced staff.

However, the two figures should not be interpreted as a measure of employee retention. The medals recognize years of service but do not provide information on staff turnover, retention rates or overall job quality across the group’s businesses.

Government Calls for Strong Social Dialogue

Labor Minister Grégoire Owona said workforce growth alone is not enough to ensure stable labor relations. He called on employers, labor representatives and labor inspectors to ensure that business expansion is accompanied by effective social dialogue.

His comments come as the logistics industry undergoes significant change, with automation, higher productivity requirements and evolving job roles reshaping working conditions.

The sector’s transformation is increasing the need for continuous training, workplace safety measures and skills development, particularly in port operations, equipment maintenance, heavy machinery, information technology, security and logistics management.

Investment Plan Extends to 2030

AGL Cameroon has set a target of investing CFA50 billion by 2030. If the program continues as planned, it could create additional demand for technical workers in port operations, logistics platforms and digital systems. The key question will be whether those investments continue generating skilled, long-term jobs that add value to Cameroon’s economy.

Future data will help assess how hiring is distributed across the group’s subsidiaries, the share of permanent positions, employee qualifications and spending on workforce training.

With 1,240 employees and more than 500 hires since 2023, AGL says employment is already one of the clearest outcomes of its expansion. Whether that momentum continues will depend on the company’s ability to sustain investment and develop the skilled local workforce needed for a modern logistics industry.

Frédéric Nonos