Business

7, May 2026

Cameroon cocoa prices climb back above CFA 1,500 ahead of season end ⁰

Cocoa bean prices are rising again across Cameroon’s production basins just two months before the end of the 2025/2026 marketing season scheduled for July 15.

According to data published by the Information System for Commodity Chains (SIF) of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC), cocoa prices ranged between CFA1,550 and CFA1,650 per kilogram as of May 6, 2026, moving back above the symbolic CFA1,500 threshold.

In recent weeks, prices observed in producing areas had generally hovered around CFA1,300 per kilogram.

Despite the rebound, prices currently paid to Cameroonian producers remain far below the record highs reached during previous seasons.

During the 2024/2025 season, cocoa prices peaked at CFA5,400 per kilogram after reaching a record CFA6,000 during the 2023/2024 campaign.

Based on those exceptional performances, Cameroonian authorities had projected producer prices ranging between CFA3,200 and CFA5,400 per kilogram at the launch of the 2025/2026 campaign.

Actual market conditions, however, have proved much less favorable.

According to commodity market analysts, the gap between official projections and actual farmgate prices is mainly explained by expectations of higher global production.

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) expects a recovery in global supply following the 2024/2025 campaign after three consecutive seasons marked by production deficits.

Market observers believe the anticipated surplus should continue to weigh on cocoa prices both internationally and in producing countries such as Cameroon.

Source: Sbbc

7, May 2026

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Socadel ordered to intensify fight against electricity fraud ⁰

Cameroon’s new management team at the Cameroon Electricity Company (Socadel), installed on May 5, 2026 in Yaoundé, officially takes office with an immediate mandate: intensify the fight against electricity fraud and help restore a power sector facing deep structural difficulties.

The directive was issued by Minister of Water and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba during the launch of the new public operator, which is expected to take over from Eneo as part of the government’s broader renationalization and restructuring of the electricity sector.

At the head of the company, Oumarou Hamandjoda inherits a highly sensitive challenge involving technical, financial, and social issues.

For authorities, electricity fraud ranks among the most urgent priorities.

The minister said several actions had already been identified for the first 100 days of the new management team, highlighting the continuation of operations targeting electricity theft in order to improve sector revenues.

The priority forms part of a nationwide campaign launched in March 2026.

The government describes fraud as a major source of commercial losses, with annual revenue shortfalls estimated at more than CFA60 billion.

Authorities also link these practices to network deterioration and safety risks associated with illegal connections and meter tampering.

The fight against fraud, however, does not fully capture the broader difficulties facing Cameroon’s electricity sector.

The government justified the public takeover of Eneo as part of a wider restructuring effort aimed at correcting longstanding operational failures and restoring service quality.

Socadel’s new leadership will therefore be judged not only on its ability to reduce commercial losses, but also on concrete improvements in electricity supply and customer relations.

Source: Business in Cameroon

5, May 2026

BEAC says Cameroon is dominating Mobile Money in Central Africa ⁰

Cameroon remains the leading Mobile Money market in Central Africa, strengthening its position in 2024 even as competition across the region intensifies.

According to a report on payment services published by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), the country accounted for 65.1% of all Mobile Money accounts in the CEMAC zone—Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic—up from 62.1% in 2023.

Cameroon also represented 57% of the total value of Mobile Money transactions in the region. However, this share declined from 63.58% a year earlier, pointing to faster growth in other markets.

As of December 31, 2024, more than 51.2 million Mobile Money accounts were recorded across CEMAC, a 28% increase year over year. Of these, 30.9 million were in Cameroon, up by more than 6 million accounts compared with 24.86 million in 2023.

The BEAC attributes this growth to the broader adoption of mobile banking applications. These tools now allow users to hold Mobile Money accounts alongside traditional bank accounts, expanding access to digital financial services.

Technological changes have also made it easier to open accounts. Payment accounts are no longer tied to a single telecom operator, meaning users can now open multiple Mobile Money accounts using the same phone number with different providers.

These shifts have driven both transaction volumes and values higher across the region.

In 2024, the number of Mobile Money transactions in CEMAC rose by 6.42% to reach 3.7 billion. The total value increased more sharply, climbing 20.33% to CFA34,778.5 billion.

Cameroon alone accounted for CFA26,773 billion of that total—nearly four times the combined value recorded in Congo and Gabon.

The central bank points to several factors behind this expansion, including promotional campaigns by payment providers, renewed activity from some operators, the growth of interoperability between financial institutions, the spread of small-value payments, and the rollout of new services such as microloans and international transfers.

Source: Business in Cameroon

4, May 2026

Douala: Fire at Metafrique Steel injures at least 10, halts production ⁰

A fire broke out overnight from April 30 to May 1, 2026, damaging part of the facilities at Metafrique Steel in the Bassa industrial zone in Douala, the company said.

Ten people were injured, according to preliminary figures, including nine Cameroonians and one Indian national.

Some of the injured, who are being treated at Douala General Hospital, remain in critical condition, the hospital’s director, Prof. Henry Luma Namme, said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Unconfirmed reports say it may have started in the furnace, where metals are melted at temperatures above 1,500 degrees Celsius. Pending the results of an investigation it has launched, the company has temporarily shut down the plant. It has also set up psychological support for employees and their families.

This is not the first incident at the site. In April 2022, a fire damaged raw material stocks without causing any casualties.

A subsidiary of India’s Metafrique group, the company recycles ferrous scrap to produce rebar and other steel products. It has operated in Cameroon for about 15 years and employs nearly 500 people, with annual output of around 36,000 metric tons.

Along with Aciéries du Cameroun, Prometal, Alucam and Proalu, Metafrique Steel is a member of the Organisation camerounaise des industries de transformation des métaux (Ocitram), which groups five major players in the sector. Industry estimates suggest these companies account for nearly 95% of the domestic market, generate about 500 billion CFA francs in annual revenue and employ more than 4,000 people.

In November 2022, Metafrique expanded its operations by acquiring Airgaz Cameroun, a producer of industrial and medical gases. The deal enables it to supply hospitals with oxygen and provide technical gases to industrial clients.

Beyond the injuries, the fire raises fresh concerns about safety at steel plants, where strict compliance with prevention standards is critical. Operations at Metafrique Steel are likely to resume only after the investigation is completed and any required measures are taken.

Source: Business in Cameroon

1, May 2026

Douala partners Huawei to advance digital transformation plans ⁰

During an official visit to China, Douala Mayor Roger Mbassa Ndinè signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei on April 28, 2026, focused on the digital modernization of Cameroon’s economic capital. The agreement reflects the ambition of the Douala City Council (CUD) to strengthen urban management tools and move toward a “Smart City” model.

At this stage, financial details, implementation timelines, and contractual terms have not been disclosed. The agreement should therefore be distinguished from a finalized contract or a funded program. It instead sets a framework for cooperation between the CUD and the Chinese group across several digital initiatives.

According to a source close to the matter, the planned areas of cooperation include urban surveillance, smart traffic management, modernization of the municipal IT system, digitization of land records, expansion of municipal fiber networks, and remote management of public lighting.

One component would involve equipping the urban monitoring center with supervision and video surveillance tools to support municipal police efforts in managing urban disorder. Another would focus on deploying sensors and traffic monitoring systems on major roads, in a city regularly affected by congestion.

Land management is also a key aspect. The project includes plans to digitize 200,000 land records and introduce a digital ownership certificate. The stated objective is to improve land security and facilitate access to administrative data. However, this component will require clarification on the legal status of such certificates, the authorities responsible for validation, and safeguards for personal data protection.

The agreement also provides for strengthening municipal digital infrastructure. Huawei may support the expansion of the fiber optic network linking administrative buildings and strategic sites across the city. Solutions for remote management of public lighting are also under consideration, with the aim of reducing energy consumption and improving maintenance.

Beyond infrastructure, the agreement includes a training component. Huawei is expected to train engineers and CUD staff in managing digital systems, notably through its Huawei ICT Academy program. The city authority would act as an institutional facilitator and integrator of the selected solutions.

For Douala, the challenge goes beyond acquiring technology. The success of the initiative will depend on the transparency of future agreements, the availability of financing, local maintenance capacity, data protection measures, and the ability to align digital innovation with tangible urban services.

In a fast-growing city facing congestion, land pressure, and rising demand for public services, digital tools could improve urban management. However, the CUD-Huawei agreement will only deliver measurable results if it leads to funded, legally structured, and accountable projects.

Source: Business in Cameroon

30, April 2026

Middle East: US blockade crumbles as Iran turns to overland routes ⁰

As the US intensifies its inhuman sanctions and seeks to stifle Iran’s economy through an illegal naval blockade, Tehran has made strategic adjustments.

Pakistan formally activated a new transit corridor through Iran on Friday, announcing that the inaugural shipment including frozen meat bound for Tashkent, Uzbekistan had been dispatched via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Iranian overland routes.

The country designated six transit routes, including multiple key corridors connecting ports and border points inside Pakistan, forming a wide network for overland trade into Iran in a bid to bypass the maritime trade routes in the Persian Gulf.

The order, which took effect on April 25, aims to ease the logjam at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, where more than 3,000 Iran-bound containers have been stuck due to the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

By using the new corridor, officials estimate travel time to the Iranian border will drop from 18 hours to just three hours, which in turn will lower logistics costs for regional traders.

The designated routes create a land bridge between Pakistan’s deep-sea ports and the Iranian border, offering a lifeline for third-country goods that that would otherwise be vulnerable to US naval piracy at sea.

For China, the world’s largest oil importer and the destination for an estimated 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports before the current war, the opening of overland alternatives carries acute strategic significance.

With the US Navy enforcing an illegal cordon at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman since April 13, the maritime route that once carried one-fifth of global petroleum has been hijacked by armed naval raid, subjected to systematic plunder.

The blockade’s primary target has always been as much about Beijing as Tehran. China purchases roughly 13 to 15 percent of its crude oil imports from Iran, volumes that before the war exceeded 1.38 million barrels per day.

Iranian crude, often trans-shipped through Malaysia and other intermediaries, feeds China’s independent “teapot” refineries and helps underpin Beijing’s energy security.

The Trump administration has made no secret of its intent to sever this flow. On April 23, Washington imposed sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical’s Dalian refinery, one of China’s largest independent processors, with 400,000 barrels per day capacity, alongside roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in Iranian oil transport.

In a draconian announcement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the US would constrict “the network of vessels, intermediaries and buyers Iran relies on to move its oil to global markets”.

Yet even as the American piracy tightens, the physical blockade is showing gaps. Satellite imagery and tracking data have revealed that several Iranian-flagged vessels under sanctions had sailed out of the Persian Gulf.

While tankers maneuver, Iran’s top diplomat has been building the political architecture for overland alternatives. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi embarked on a high-stakes tour on April 23, travelling twice to Pakistan for consultations and to coordinate the corridor activation before heading to Oman and finally to Russia.

In Islamabad, the discussions reportedly focused on key issues, the details of which are not specified. But the tangible outcome was the corridor itself.

Pakistan’s new transit routes, connecting Gwadar, Karachi and Port Qasim to the border crossings of Gabd and Taftan, provide Iran with immediate access to CPEC’s road and rail infrastructure.

Gwadar was built with Chinese loans and Chinese labor precisely as a hedge against maritime chokepoints. Now, with the Sea of Oman effectively closed, goods moving overland from Iran to Gwadar can connect to Chinese markets via the CPEC network, bypassing the US Navy entirely.

On April 27, Araghchi met with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg for talks lasting more than 90 minutes. The Iranian foreign minister described the discussions as covering “all issues, both in bilateral relations and regional issues, as well as the issue of war and aggression by the US and Zionist regimes”.

According to media reports, the Russian president said Moscow “will do what it can to support the interests of Iran and other regional countries and help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible”.

He added that “not only Russia, but now the whole world is admiring the Iranian people for their resistance against America”.

While Russia and Iran signed framework agreements on the International North-South Transport Corridor years ago, the current crisis has given those plans new urgency.

Araghchi used the St Petersburg meeting to reaffirm that Tehran views its relationship with Moscow as a “strategic partnership” that will continue “with greater strength and breadth”.

For China, Russia’s role is complementary. The INSTC offers a route from Mumbai to Moscow via Iranian rail links, a path that, if fully operationalized, would give Chinese goods another overland alternative to maritime shipping.

More immediately, Russia’s diplomatic cover complicates any US effort to pressure Pakistan or other neighbors into closing their borders to Iranian trade.

The central question for Washington is whether maritime piracy can achieve what missiles and airstrikes failed to deliver. After the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, it became clear that bombing alone would not bring down the country to its knees.

The blockade represents a shift to economic suffocation aiming to squeeze Iran’s oil revenues. But the strategy carries costs. Global oil prices remain elevated near $120 per barrel, stoking inflationary pressures across the US, Europe and beyond.

More fundamentally, the blockade’s success depends on land routes remaining closed. Pakistan’s activation of the transit corridor, Russia’s support, and China’s quiet integration of Gwadar into its supply chain collectively suggest that Tehran is building an overland escape hatch that the US Navy cannot interdict under any circumstance.

“Whenever there are sanctions or blockades, there will also be workarounds, whether informal channels or other flexible arrangements,” Wang Yiwei, director of Renmin University’s Institute of International Affairs, told The Straits Times. “The key question we should be asking is: can this blockade actually be sustained?”

For now, the answer appears uncertain but with each new overland corridor, Iran is proving impossible to seal and China unlikely to be starved.

Source: Press TV

29, April 2026

Cameroon targets up to 800 billion CFA francs at November Investment Forum ⁰

Cameroon’s Investment Promotion Agency formally launched preparatory activities for the fifth edition of the Cameroon Investment Forum on April 28 in Yaoundé, setting a target of 500 billion to 800 billion CFA francs in investment commitments from the three-day event.

The forum, CIF 2026, is scheduled for November 18 to 20 at the Yaoundé Conference Centre. It arrives at a moment of accelerating economic realignment across the continent, with the African Continental Free Trade Area gaining momentum and regional value chains reshaping where capital flows, and Cameroon is explicitly positioning itself to capture a significant share of that investment traffic.

IPA Interim General Manager Boma Donatus presented the plans alongside Walid Farghal, Director General of the AIM Global Foundation, which is co-organising the forum under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Abu Dhabi at the AIM Congress 2025.

Beyond the investment commitment goal, the forum aims to present 40 bankable projects, close or advance at least 15 deals currently in negotiation, produce sectoral roadmaps, and identify ten priority reforms to sharpen Cameroon’s competitiveness. Sectors in focus include agribusiness, energy, digital technology, logistics, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

A significant shift in this edition is the involvement of the AIM Global Foundation as co-organiser, a partnership the IPA says is designed to bring international rigour to an event previously organised primarily through domestic capacity.

“AIM can mobilise investors from almost every country where we cannot go ourselves. With a partner like this, we are certain that the appeal of our forum will be strengthened even further. AIM has expertise in developing several types of platforms that contribute to the signing of deals and strategic partnerships,” Boma Donatus said.

AIM Foundation operates across more than 180 countries, with a network of over 300,000 investors and institutions. Farghal, who travelled to Yaoundé to attend the launch and begin technical preparations with the IPA, was direct about what AIM brings to the table.

“Our focus is to develop deals for specific sectors especially infrastructure, logistics, new energy, manufacturing and agribusiness. We are working very closely with the IPA team to make sure that all features of the forum will be well positioned and promoted internationally to all AIM Global branches,” he said.

CIF 2026 is also being framed as a platform to promote ongoing government reforms, including the digitisation of administrative procedures and the modernisation of the investment framework, signalling to prospective investors that the operating environment is actively being improved.

The IPA has opened registration for all stakeholders, including businesses, investors, financial institutions, start-ups, project promoters, public administrations, and diaspora communities, at the forum’s website.

Source: Business in Cameroon

29, April 2026

Middle East war to spark biggest energy price surge in 4 years ⁰

Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity markets, according to the World Bank Group’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook. Overall commodity prices are forecast to rise 16% in 2026, driven by soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals.

The shock will have serious implications for job creation and development, the analysis indicates.

Attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 35% of global seaborne crude oil trade, have triggered the largest oil supply shock on record, with an initial reduction in global oil supply of about 10 million barrels per day. Even after moderating from their recent peak, Brent oil prices remained more than 50% higher in mid-April than they were at the start of the year. Brent oil is forecast to average $86 a barrel in 2026, up sharply from $69 a barrel in 2025. These forecasts assume that the most acute disruptions end in May and that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz gradually returns to pre-war levels by late 2026.

“The war is hitting the global economy in cumulative waves: first through higher energy prices, then higher food prices, and finally, higher inflation, which will push up interest rates and make debt even more expensive,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics. “The poorest people, who spend the highest share of their income on food and fuels, will be hit the hardest, as will developing economies already struggling under heavy debt burdens. All of this is a reminder of a stark truth: war is development in reverse.”

Fertilizer prices are projected to increase by 31% in 2026, driven by a 60% jump in urea prices. Fertilizer affordability will fall to its worst level since 2022, eroding farmers’ incomes and threatening future crop yields. If the conflict proves more prolonged, these pressures on food supply and affordability could push up to 45 million more people into acute food insecurity this year, according to the World Food Programme.

Prices for base metals, including aluminum, copper, and tin, are also expected to reach all-time highs, reflecting strong demand related to industries including data centers, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Precious metals continue to break price and volatility records, with average prices forecast to increase 42% in 2026, as geopolitical uncertainty fuels demand for safe-haven assets.

Rising commodity prices caused by these shocks will increase inflation and dampen growth worldwide. In developing economies, inflation is now projected to average 5.1% in 2026 under the baseline assumptions—a full percentage point higher than was expected before the war and an increase from 4.7% last year. Growth in developing economies will also deteriorate as higher prices for essentials weigh on incomes and exports from the Middle East face sharp curbs. Developing economies are expected to grow by 3.6% in 2026, a downward revision of 0.4 percentage point since January. Economies directly impacted by conflict will be hardest hit, and 70% of commodity importers and more than 60% of commodity exporters worldwide could see weaker growth than was projected in January.

Commodity prices could rise even higher if hostilities escalate or supply disruptions from the war last longer than projected. Brent oil prices could average as high as $115 a barrel in 2026 in a scenario where critical oil and gas facilities suffer more damage and export volumes are slow to recover. This in turn would have ripple effects on prices for fertilizer and alternative energy sources such as biofuels. Under this scenario, inflation in developing economies could rise to 5.8% this year, a level exceeded only in 2022 over the past decade.

“The succession of shocks over the decade has sharply reduced the fiscal space available to respond to the current historic energy supply crisis,” said Ayhan Kose, the World Bank’s Deputy Chief Economist and Director of the Prospects Group. “Governments must resist the temptation of broad, untargeted fiscal support measures that could distort markets and erode fiscal buffers. Instead, they should focus on rapid, temporary support targeted to the most vulnerable households.”

The report’s special focus finds that oil-price volatility during periods of rising geopolitical risk is roughly twice as high as during calmer periods, with a geopolitically driven 1% decline in oil production pushing prices up by an average of 11.5%. Critically, these effects spill over into other key commodity markets, with an impact roughly 50% larger than under normal market conditions. According to the report, a 10% oil price increase triggered by a geopolitical supply shock leads to natural gas price increases peaking at about 7% and fertilizer price increases peaking at over 5%. These peaks typically occur about a year after the initial oil price shock, with adverse consequences for food security and poverty reduction.

27, April 2026

Cameroon courts Brazilian investors with 10-Year incentives ⁰

Commerce Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana met a delegation of Brazilian business leaders in Yaounde on Friday, April 24, to discuss plans to establish operations in Cameroon and position the country as a production base for Central Africa.

The delegation, which included representatives of Brazilian groups Trilhas and Adilson, is exploring market entry as Cameroon seeks to attract industrial investment, reduce imports and expand exports. The meeting was attended by Cameroon’s Minister Counsellor at the Embassy in Brazil, Paulin Martial Tchenzette.

The visit comes as Cameroon intensifies South-South economic cooperation and seeks new industrial partnerships capable of reducing imports, increasing domestic production and expanding exports.

Speaking during the audience, Mbarga Atangana said Cameroon wanted partnerships that go beyond trade in finished goods and instead support domestic manufacturing capacity.

“Cameroon does not want to limit itself to the simple exchange of goods or services. Cameroon wants to develop its local capacity to increase production. We want to be able to produce massively in Cameroon rather than import what Brazil produces,” he said.

The minister said Cameroon offered institutional stability, freedom of enterprise and an investment incentives framework designed to support new businesses. He also highlighted the country’s youthful population, natural resources and varied geography as assets for industrial development.

He added that Cameroon accounts for nearly half of Central Africa’s gross domestic product, making it a key commercial gateway for companies targeting the sub-region.

“When you invest in Cameroon, it means you have invested in the whole of Central Africa. And if you produce in Cameroon, you will be able to sell across Africa,” he said.

Access to African and European Markets

Officials also used the meeting to underline the commercial reach available to investors manufacturing in Cameroon. The minister cited the African Continental Free Trade Area, a market of 1.3 billion consumers, as well as Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union and the United Kingdom. He said those arrangements provide duty-free access for qualifying Cameroonian products into markets representing roughly 500 million additional consumers.

That positioning strengthens Cameroon’s pitch as a production hub where investors can manufacture locally while serving multiple export destinations.

IPA offers 10-year incentives to agri-investors

Earlier the same day, the delegation met officials of the Investment Promotion Agency, IPA, at its Yaounde headquarters to discuss opportunities in livestock, grain and aquaculture. Interim General Manager Boma Donatus said the IPA remained the mandatory first point of contact for foreign direct investment entering Cameroon and could guide investors through establishment procedures.

He outlined a convention signed with the agency granting incentives for up to ten years during both construction and operating phases.

“During this time, your tax rates will be reduced and what you are bringing in will be free from customs duties during the establishment phase,” Boma said.

He confirmed that livestock and grain are classified as strategic sectors under Cameroon’s investment code, giving investors access to targeted support measures.

Boma said Cameroon has 9.6 million hectares of arable land, with only 1.6 million hectares currently in use, pointing to significant room for agricultural expansion. He added that rice, maize and fish remain heavily imported products that could be produced domestically.

“Agriculture is one of the backbones of our economy, not only in growing crops but in transforming coffee, cocoa and all these products which you have in abundance in Cameroon,” he said.

For aquaculture investors, he also identified floating fish cage opportunities on the Wouri River.

More Brazilian firms may follow

The Brazilian delegation was led by Santa Maria General Director Daniella Prudente Vitorino, who said repeated visits to Cameroon had strengthened investor confidence and accelerated project plans.

“Since my first visit, I have received strong support from the agency, from airport reception to helping with formal procedures. That accompaniment gives us confidence and reassures us that we are welcome here,” Vitorino said.

“Each time I return, the projects become more concrete and more solid. After I go back to Brazil, many companies are waiting for my report, and it will be positive,” she added.

Vitorino said she first visited Cameroon in 2023 and has since carried out market and business studies with support from the IPA.

“Today I am here to open my company, my Brazilian branch in Ngaoundere. The official opening will take place on April 30,” she said.

She added that several additional Brazilian companies were already considering visits to Cameroon in November, with interest spanning technology, internet services and other sectors.

With Brazil recognized globally for agribusiness expertise, the partnership could also support Cameroon’s broader strategy of modernizing agriculture while strengthening its role as a supply hub for Central Africa.

Source: Business in Cameroon

23, April 2026

Yaoundé Forum opens door to Latin American Industrial Investment ⁰

Latin American investors are positioning Cameroon as their preferred entry point into the Central African market, with concrete business commitments already emerging from the first edition of the Economic Forum for Import Substitution with Latin American Countries (EFILAC 2026), which opened on April 2026 in Yaoundé.

The forum brings together policymakers, investors and business leaders from both regions to accelerate cooperation in agro-industry, pharmaceuticals and construction materials. Organised by the Ministry of External Relations and the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), the initiative is designed to strengthen domestic productive capacity while diversifying trade partnerships beyond traditional markets.

The opening session set out the government’s objective of building concrete industrial partnerships capable of producing goods currently imported in large volumes. Officials highlighted technology transfer and shared expertise as central to this strategy, particularly drawing on Latin America’s experience in value addition and agricultural transformation.

According to the Secretary General at the Ministry of External Relations, Oumarou Chinmoun, EFILAC is in line with government policy: that of making Cameroon a land of productive opportunities and essential industrial growth in the heart of Africa.

“We share with nations such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Chile not only similar climatic and agricultural challenges, but above all proven expertise in structural transformation and the development of agricultural value chains,” he said.

Gateway to a 60-million-consumer market

Data presented during the forum indicates that trade between Africa and Latin America currently accounts for less than 2% of global exchanges, pointing to a significant untapped growth margin. Cameroon continues to import agricultural inputs, processed food products and industrial equipment from the region, with estimates placing these flows at around CFA1.5 trillion annually.

Officials said reversing this trend through local production could unlock new industrial capacity while reducing external dependence. The API outlined its role in structuring investment opportunities, positioning itself as a facilitator for Latin American firms seeking entry into Cameroon and the wider Central African market.

“The opportunities for investment are numerous and are driven by growing demand in agro-industry, construction materials, agricultural equipment, industrial packaging, logistics and production technologies,” said Boma Donatus, an API official. “The Cameroon market represents 28 million consumers within a CEMAC space of 60 million inhabitants, with access to more than 12 billion consumers across African markets,” he added.

Parallel to the policy discussions, the forum hosted a first round of business-to-business meetings between Cameroonian and Latin American companies. These sessions are aimed at establishing joint ventures and long-term industrial partnerships, particularly in sectors where import substitution is considered immediately viable.

Latin American investors attending the forum signaled strong interest in Cameroon’s geographic position and resource base. Daniella Prudente Vitorino, Head of Delegation of Latin American investors, said the country’s market fundamentals had influenced investment decisions.

“I came in an economic mission like this and my heart decided to stay here. When I got back in Brazil, my team began to start marketing studies,” she said. “This country has many similarities with Brazil in terms of climate, rainfall levels and food customs, and that made us decide to stay here,” she added.

She also pointed to Cameroon’s role as a regional gateway. “Let’s not forget one important thing, the strategic location of Cameroon for the entire African market. Cameroon’s strategic location is very important to us,” she said.

Sector-specific investments are already emerging. In the livestock and agriculture value chain, investors have identified the Adamawa Region as a priority zone, with new facilities and training programs underway, including initiatives in artificial insemination to improve productivity.

Beyond agriculture, aquaculture has also been identified as a growth area. Helio F. Martins, a Brazilian business leader, highlighted the potential for adapting Latin American technologies to local conditions.

“Cameroon is a land of opportunities, especially in aquaculture. We have a technology within the company that is very well adapted to Cameroon, which has many rivers where we can produce fish,” he said. “We have already imported equipment and created a company with a local partner. This forum will allow us to boost our partnership with Cameroon,” he added.

The forum’s first day concluded with networking events, including a business and cultural gala aimed at strengthening ties between participants. Organizers said the quality of exchanges and level of participation indicate strong prospects for translating discussions into tangible investments.

Source: Business in Cameroon