Africa

7, July 2026

Cameroon’s economy grew 3.5% in 2025 despite a sharp drop in exports ⁰

Cameroon’s economy expanded by 3.5% in real terms in 2025, but the growth came largely from domestic demand rather than stronger export performance, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

In its report on fourth-quarter 2025 national accounts, the INS said annual economic growth reached 3.5% compared with 2024. Excluding oil and natural gas, growth stood at 3.8%.

The figures point to an economy that continued to expand, but with growth driven primarily by spending at home rather than by stronger external demand. Over the year, export volumes fell 7.6%, while imports rose 10.1%, leaving the trade deficit at 3.9% of nominal GDP.

Domestic demand remained the main growth engine

According to the INS, domestic demand was the main source of economic growth in 2025. Final consumption increased 4.6%, while investment rose 6.8%. Household consumption expanded 4.4%, reflecting resilient consumer spending, while government consumption increased 6%, providing additional support to economic activity.

Investment also strengthened during the year. Gross fixed capital formation rose 6.8%, driven by a 16.3% increase in public investment and 4.2% growth in private investment. That spending supported sectors such as construction, engineering services and equipment-related activities.

At the same time, it raises a broader question about the quality of growth. A significant share of investment still relies on imported machinery, equipment and intermediate goods, suggesting that stronger domestic demand has also fueled higher imports.

Exports weakened as imports accelerated

External trade remained the economy’s main weak spot in 2025. Goods exports fell 10% in volume over the year, while services exports grew 2.7%.

Meanwhile, goods imports increased 10.6%, and services imports rose 7%. The result was an economy that relied increasingly on imported products to sustain domestic activity while generating fewer export earnings to offset those purchases.

The INS data show some improvement during the final quarter of the year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, total exports rose 3.5% between the third and fourth quarters of 2025, with goods exports increasing 6% and services exports 8.2%. Total imports edged down 0.1% over the same period.

That quarterly improvement, however, did not reverse the broader trend. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, total exports were still down 8.5%, while imports were up 13.2%.

Although the trade deficit narrowed during the fourth quarter to 4.5% of GDP for the period, the country still ended 2025 with a full-year trade deficit equivalent to 3.9% of nominal GDP.

Services continued to lead the economy

On the production side, the services sector remained Cameroon’s strongest growth driver. Output expanded 4.6% over the year, supported by financial services (9.7%), information and communications (9.3%), transport (4.2%) and public services (4.7%).

Industry posted more modest growth of 2%. Construction expanded 4.8%, while water supply and sanitation grew 6.4%. Those gains were partly offset by a 6.9% decline in extractive industries, particularly oil and gas.

Growth in the primary sector slowed to 1.7%. Industrial and export agriculture contracted 3.2%, reducing the sector’s contribution to export earnings at a time when stronger external sales are becoming increasingly important.

Growth remains uneven

The INS figures show that Cameroon’s economy continued to grow in 2025, supported by household spending, investment, construction and services. But they also point to an economy with an increasingly unbalanced growth model.

Domestic demand is providing solid support for activity, yet rising imports and weaker exports leave the country more exposed to external pressures and a widening trade gap.

Over the longer term, sustaining growth will require more than stronger domestic spending. It will depend on expanding productive capacity, increasing local manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports where feasible and strengthening the country’s export base. For now, Cameroon’s economy is growing. The next challenge will be making that growth more balanced and more competitive.

Source: Business in Cameroon

6, July 2026

Gov’t upgrades Ndop rice facilities to support import substitution ⁰

Cameroon is counting on Ndop to become one of the country’s leading rice-producing areas after investing more than CFA4 billion to modernize production and processing facilities at the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA).

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriel Mbairobe inspected the new equipment on July 2 alongside North West Regional Council President Prof. Fru Angwafo III.

The government hopes the investment will increase UNVDA’s annual rice production from 21,000 tons to 100,000 tons, nearly a fivefold increase.

Achieving that goal, however, will require far more than new processing equipment. Expanding cultivated land, improving irrigation, ensuring access to seeds and fertilizer, strengthening farmer support, and increasing UNVDA’s capacity to purchase, process, and market paddy rice will all be critical.

Modern facilities, but production must follow

The newly installed equipment can process up to 20 tons of paddy rice per hour, replacing aging machinery that had long limited the authority’s operations. The upgrade should reduce processing bottlenecks, improve rice quality, and allow larger volumes of paddy to be handled.

But higher milling capacity does not automatically translate into higher agricultural output. UNVDA still faces challenges related to land development, irrigation, and farm productivity. Although the Ndop plains offer significant agricultural potential, only part of the available land has been developed for rice cultivation.

Unless irrigation systems, rural roads, improved seeds, fertilizers, and extension services expand alongside the processing facilities, the new plant could operate well below capacity. The government’s own assessment of the rice sector highlights these constraints. The Ministry of Agriculture cites post-harvest losses, insufficient milling capacity, outdated storage infrastructure, high input costs, shortages of improved seed varieties, limited mechanization, and inadequate irrigation among the industry’s biggest obstacles.

The Ndop investment addresses one of those challenges, but not all of them.

Reducing dependence on imported rice

The project is part of Cameroon’s broader effort to reduce its dependence on imported food. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), cereal imports totaled CFA466.9 billion in 2025, down 14.1% from the previous year but still accounting for 8.9% of the country’s total import bill.

Rice remained the largest imported cereal, with purchases valued at CFA268.7 billion, or 5.1% of total imports, despite declining 15.6% from 2024.

By increasing UNVDA’s processing capacity, the government hopes to expand domestic rice production, gradually replace imports, and create more value within local farming communities.

The initiative fits into Cameroon’s import substitution strategy, which aims to increase the productivity, output, and competitiveness of domestic agriculture.

Still, local rice will need to compete with lower-cost imports, particularly from Asia. That means producing enough rice of consistent quality, packaging it effectively, and keeping prices affordable for consumers.

More than equipment will determine success

Farmers have welcomed the arrival of the new facilities, saying they should shorten processing times, improve access to milling services, and increase the value of their harvests. However, producer prices, access to fertilizer and improved seeds, farm machinery, better roads, and UNVDA’s ability to purchase paddy on time will remain critical to the project’s success.

Security also remains a concern. UNVDA operates in Cameroon’s North West Region, which has been affected by the Anglophone crisis since 2017. Although the Ndop plains retain strong agricultural potential, insecurity continues to affect access to farms, the movement of farmers and inputs, and the transport of rice to markets.

Against that backdrop, the presence of the regional council president alongside the agriculture minister underscored the government’s intention to anchor the project within the region’s broader development strategy.

Ultimately, however, the success of the investment will depend less on political support than on whether it can secure the entire production chain.

The CFA4 billion investment marks an important step in modernizing UNVDA and strengthening Cameroon’s ambition to expand domestic rice production. But increasing annual output from 21,000 tons to 100,000 tons will require much more than new machinery. It will depend on whether higher processing capacity is matched by sustained gains in agricultural production and a more competitive local rice industry.

Source: Business in Cameroon

2, July 2026

Camtel’s bill of health: higher profit, poor service quality ⁰

Cameroon Telecommunications (Camtel) continued to improve its financial performance in 2025, posting higher revenue and profit as the state-owned telecom operator extended a recovery that has been underway for several years.

Speaking at the National Management Days in Douala, CEO Judith Yah Sunday Achidi said Camtel generated net profit of more than CFA13 billion in 2025, up from CFA12.7 billion the previous year.

Revenue also increased, rising above CFA235 billion from CFA217 billion in 2024. The growth continues a steady upward trend. In a statement released in December 2025, Camtel said its revenue had doubled from CFA108 billion in 2018 to CFA217 billion in 2024.

According to the CEO, the company’s performance reflects years of internal reforms, including the digitalization of services, tighter revenue controls, and a stronger focus on operational performance. She cited the expansion of online subscriptions, electronic bill payments, and improved revenue monitoring, saying these measures boosted efficiency without additional capital injections from the state.

That claim, however, deserves some context. Camtel has also said it has invested more than CFA145 billion since 2021 to upgrade and expand its telecommunications network. The company’s stronger financial results therefore reflect both management reforms and sustained investment in its infrastructure.

Fixed Services Remain the Backbone

The financial gains come even as Camtel’s business model continues to depend largely on its traditional activities.

According to an audit by the Audit Bench of Cameroon’s Supreme Court covering 2015 and subsequent years, the company operates under three concession agreements signed on March 12, 2020, covering transmission infrastructure, fixed telecommunications, and mobile services.

Between 2015 and 2020, Camtel’s fixed-services business generated most of its revenue, ahead of transmission services and mobile operations. But the nature of that business has changed significantly. Traditional landline services have steadily declined as mobile telephony expanded, while fixed broadband has become the company’s main growth driver.

That shift explains Camtel’s increasing focus on fiber-optic services, enterprise connectivity, and wholesale data transport. According to the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART), the transmission segment where Camtel is the dominant operator continues to benefit from rising demand for bandwidth. The company operates a national fiber-optic network stretching nearly 12,000 kilometers and connected to several submarine cable landing stations.

The picture is less encouraging in mobile services. Despite expanding its Blue mobile brand, Camtel remains a distant competitor in a market dominated by Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon. According to the ART, mobile service revenue reached CFA631 billion in 2024, with growth driven largely by mobile data.

The regulator’s figures also highlight the market’s concentration. Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon account for most mobile revenue, while Camtel continues to hold only a small share. That limits the public operator’s ability to turn its nationwide infrastructure into a stronger position in the mobile market.

Better Service Remains the Real Test

Service quality remains Camtel’s biggest challenge.

The company’s stronger financial performance contrasts with frequent customer complaints about slow internet speeds, service outages, and difficulties accessing both fixed and mobile services. Such complaints remain common on social media, highlighting the gap between the company’s financial progress and users’ day-to-day experience.

Camtel acknowledges that network modernization remains a priority. In its December 2025 statement responding to the Supreme Court audit, the company said it had committed more than CFA145 billion since 2021 to modernize and expand its telecommunications infrastructure.

That effort continued in 2026 with the signing of a CFA44.884 billion syndicated financing agreement with Commercial Bank Cameroon. According to Camtel, the funding will support the first phase of its Mobile Network Expansion project, which aims to strengthen existing infrastructure and extend 2G, 3G, and 4G coverage across regional and divisional capitals, university towns, strategic economic zones, and selected rural communities.

The challenge now is to turn those investments and stronger financial results into tangible improvements for customers. In a market increasingly driven by mobile data, Camtel will narrow the gap with Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon only if it improves network coverage, service reliability, internet quality, and its commercial performance.

The 2025 results show a company that is more profitable, financially stronger, and further along in its transformation. But they also underline the company’s biggest test: customers will judge Camtel less by its earnings than by the quality of the service it delivers.

Source: Business in Cameroon

30, June 2026

CDC left 14,300 hectares of mature plantations idle in 2025 ⁰

The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the country’s second-largest employer after the state, was unable to exploit a significant share of its agricultural assets in 2025. According to the company’s financial statements, 14,349 hectares of mature oil palm and rubber plantations remained unexploited during the year, significantly affecting its agricultural performance.

The company reported that 9,423 hectares of mature rubber plantations were left unexploited, representing about 51% of its 18,595 hectares of mature rubber estates. In the oil palm business, 4,926 hectares remained idle, or nearly 36% of the company’s 13,690 hectares of mature plantations.

The large amount of idle farmland highlights the operational difficulties facing the state-owned agribusiness, whose operations are concentrated mainly in the Southwest and Littoral regions. According to CDC, it was one of the main reasons the company failed to meet its 2025 production targets.

Insecurity continues to disrupt production

CDC attributed the weak performance to reduced cultivated areas, insufficient agricultural inputs, and ongoing security challenges in some production zones. In its rubber operations, the company said it lost two months of peak harvesting because of lockdowns imposed during the school reopening period and ahead of the election campaign. The disruptions affected tapping operations, which depend on regular access to plantations.

The company also reported several serious security incidents, including the killing of senior field staff in Ekona, Mungo, and Sonne/Likomba. According to CDC, the attacks disrupted operations across several plantations and continue to limit the company’s recovery efforts.

CDC said the socio-political crisis affecting Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions since 2016 continues to weigh on its operations. Since 2018, the conflict has forced the company to suspend activities on several estates, led to the deterioration and loss of assets, and contributed to accumulated losses that weakened shareholders’ equity between 2019 and 2024.

Lower spending on farm inputs

Operational difficulties were also reflected in procurement. Spending on agricultural inputs fell 12% in 2025, mainly because of lower purchases of fertilizers, crop protection products, and other farming supplies. The reduction limited the company’s ability to improve yields on the plantations that remained in production and constrained efforts to gradually restore operations on mature estates that are still idle.

Purchases of other supplies, including spare parts, banana packaging materials, irrigation equipment, lubricants, and construction materials, declined by 1%, reflecting efforts to maintain a minimum level of industrial and logistics activity despite the challenging operating environment.

CDC also generated CFA74.5 million from the disposal of fixed assets. This included CFA58.5 million from the sale of oil palm and coconut seedlings produced at its Bota nursery and CFA16.1 million from the sale of rubber stumps used for grafting.

While these revenues provided some additional income, they remain modest compared with the scale of the idle plantations and the investment needed to revive operations.

The 2025 financial statements show that CDC’s main challenge remains restoring production on its mature plantations. Until a significant share of these estates returns to operation, the company’s financial recovery is likely to remain fragile.

Source: Business in Cameroon

22, June 2026

Prime Minister Ngute revives push for Limbe Deep Seaport ⁰

Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, has ordered government administrations to fast-track the long-delayed Limbe Deep Seaport project, signalling a renewed push to expand the country’s maritime infrastructure and reduce pressure on the Port of Douala.

The directive was issued during an enlarged inter-ministerial meeting in Yaounde that reviewed feasibility studies, land demarcation plans and governance arrangements for the future port. At the end of the meeting, Ngute instructed all stakeholders to accelerate preparations and move the project towards implementation.

Strategic project back on the agenda

Located in Fako Division in the South West Region, the Limbe Deep Seaport is expected to become a major gateway for hydrocarbons and agricultural exports while boosting regional trade. The project was revived by presidential decree in May 2020, but progress has remained limited since then.

Speaking after the meeting, Transport Minister Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe said discussions focused on assessing the feasibility of implementing existing studies and determining the next steps required for construction.

“After various presentations, we noted the strategic character of this project which has the same quality as the Ring Road. The Prime Minister instructed all relevant administrations to get involved so that this strategic structure sees the light of day,” he said.

Officials identified several priority actions, including the completion of the port’s territorial delimitation and the establishment of governance and operational structures needed to manage the facility.

According to the Transport Minister, the Prime Minister also instructed relevant administrations to examine all available options and submit a comprehensive report on the project’s implementation.

Administrative and municipal authorities from Fako Division participated in the meeting, presenting local concerns and proposals aimed at resolving outstanding issues.

Local authorities seek management appointments

The Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Engelbert Viang Mekala, welcomed the renewed momentum behind the project but stressed the importance of appointing the port’s leadership.

“It is important for the top management of the Limbe Deep Seaport to be appointed because if the top management of the port is known, I think that all the actions will be taken,” he said.

Mekala added that discussions on land demarcation had advanced and expressed hope that the process would be completed before the end of June 2026.

The renewed focus on Limbe comes as the Port of Douala-Bonabéri continues to handle more than 95 percent of Cameroon’s maritime trade while serving several landlocked countries in Central Africa.

Government authorities have repeatedly identified port diversification and logistics modernisation as priorities for improving trade efficiency and supporting economic growth. The Limbe Deep Seaport is expected to play a central role in that strategy by providing additional capacity and strengthening Cameroon’s position as a regional trade hub.

Closing the meeting, Prime Minister Dion Ngute reiterated his instruction for all stakeholders to accelerate their assigned tasks and ensure the project advances from planning to effective implementation.

Source: Business in Cameroon

21, June 2026

Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline: an African dream that could reshape world energy markets ⁰

After several false starts, work on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) officially restarted in early June amid the recent thawing of relations between Niger and Algeria. The megaproject linking Nigeria with the two countries began with an initial construction phase in early April in Algeria’s Adrar region.

Over 4,000 kilometres long, the pipeline will enable the transport of Nigerian gas through Niger and Algeria, where it can then be exported to European markets, namely through Italy and Spain by way of the Mediterranean Sea.

“This project is not at all new, but it’s ramping up,” said Brahim Oumansour, associate researcher at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS). “Algeria and Niger have chosen to put their differences aside for a common goal, in a geopolitical context that is favourable to them.”

Long road to construction

The project of a pipeline between Algeria and Europe has existed since the 1980s. Since then, the project has experienced a long and winding road, with long pauses as it was relegated to the drawers of ministries and research departments. Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria first signed a deal in 2009 to “define the project” – with the first delivery of gas scheduled for 2015. After several years of delays, the project was revived in 2022 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Algiers.

“The feasibility studies for this gigantic project and the issue of financing took a long time,” said Algerian political scientist Hasni Abidi. “The three partner companies [Algeria’s Sonatrach, Nigeria’s NNPC and Niger’s Sonidep] had to find a financial arrangement. Niamey didn’t have the financial resources necessary for the construction.”

The project was also delayed because of diplomatic tensions such as those caused by Niger’s 2003 coup d’état which created a rift in relations between Niamey and its partners.

In mid-February of this year, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune welcomed the head of Niger’s junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, on an official visit in Algiers during which both sides hailed their “brotherhood”. The diplomatic engagement allowed for the revival of the ambitious project, which gained traction amid the energy supply shock created by the Middle East war and the destruction of energy infrastructure in the Gulf countries.

Corridor between two African gas giants

The TSGP’s ambition is to connect two natural gas powerhouses. Algeria is the leading producer in Africa, and Nigeria, which has the continent’s largest untapped reserves (6 billion cubic meters, equivalent to a quarter of Qatar’s reserves), is the third-largest. When combined, the two countries account for over half of Africa’s natural gas production and reserves.

“This is a very ambitious project, and one that will reshape the landscape of regional energy business,” said Abidi.

Dubbed the “project of the century” in Africa, the 4,128-kilometre-long pipeline begins in Nigeria’s Warri City and ends in Algeria’s Hassi R’Mel in the northern Sahara.

On a map, the pipeline appears as a nearly vertical line, with 1,000 kilometres running north through Nigeria, 840 kilometres through Niger and 2,300 kilometers through Algeria.

Some 1,800 kilometres still need to be built: 100 in Nigeria, 700 in Niger and 1,000 in Algeria.

Construction on the Algerian portion was officially launched on June 4 during a ceremony in the country’s southern Aoulef region attended by the three participating countries’ energy ministers.

Nigeria is scheduled to begin construction on its portion in early 2027, according to its minister of petroleum.

Financial and geostrategic godsend

The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline will enable the transport of around 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Nigeria to Europe via Algeria with its existing Transmet and Medgaz pipelines, which lead to Italy and Spain.

This volume represents about 11 percent of Europe’s annual imports of natural gas (270 billion cubic metres in 2025).

Other quantities of natural gas will be liquefied at Algeria’s Arzew and Skikda refineries before being exported to Europe in ships in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

“Algeria wants to reinforce its status as a reliable energy partner for Europe, but its capacities are limited. The partnership with Nigeria should allow it to increase its volumes to meet European demand,” said researcher Brahim Oumansour.

One of Africa’s poorest countries, Niger intends to take advantage of transit rights for the gas and attract new infrastructure and energy investments, which create jobs.

Obstacles and limitations

Despite the project’s relaunch, several obstacles jeopardise its ambitious timeline which aims for completion by 2029.

The cost of the pipeline’s construction was approximately $13 billion when it launched in 2009. Since then, the cost has increased to around $20 billion, some energy sector experts estimate. The increasing cost of raw materials and the challenging desert terrain are largely to blame. The countries participating in the project have not yet disclosed the project’s current budget.

African and international banks might lend their support to the Algerian and Nigerian investments, but no confirmation has been given thus far.

The pipeline also has security issues since the infrastructure crosses zones, particularly in northern Nigeria and Niger, where armed groups and trans-border smuggling networks are active.

Competition from Morocco

Another major gas project spearheaded by Morocco, Algeria’s main regional rival, could overshadow the TSGP. The Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) is a 6,000-kilometre-long project which includes 13 countries. The pipeline connects Nigeria to Morocco with the same objective as the TSGP: to export Nigerian gas to European markets.

The cost of the project is estimated at $25 billion.

“These two projects are in competition because they are aiming for the same customer,” Oumansour said. “Algeria is ahead, since the trans-Saharan project has made more progress. The Moroccan project depends on the construction of complex offshore structures and many more partners.”

These rival projects could both eventually win over the European market. The demand for natural gas in the European Union is higher than ever since the bloc turned its back on Russia for invading Ukraine. Iran’s chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz also reinforced European political will to strengthen nearby energy partnerships with Africa.

Yet the volatility of energy prices remains a significant risk factor for the viability of these large projects, Abidi said.

“These are colossal investments over the medium and long term. The price of gas has increased significantly, but it could fall again if Iran enters the gas market or if the war in Ukraine ends. The demand is currently there – but nothing guarantees the financial success of these projects.”

Source: France 24

20, June 2026

Promote 2026 opens in Yaoundé ⁰

Cameroon’s small and medium-sized enterprises are showcasing their products and services at the 10th edition of Promote, the International Trade Fair for Business, SMEs, and Partnerships, which opened on June 12 at the Yaoundé Conference Center.

According to organizers, 236 local SMEs are taking part in the event, which runs through June 21 and remains one of the most important business gatherings in Central Africa.

Many of the participating companies received support from either the government or large private-sector firms. Afriland First Bank, one of Cameroon’s leading lenders and a longtime supporter of the event, sponsored the participation of 40 SMEs this year. The Ministry of Economy financed the attendance of another 100 local businesses.

Held under the theme, “Private Enterprises and the Business Environment: Navigating National and Global Economic Challenges,” Promote 2026 features a broad program that includes an exhibition, conferences, thematic workshops, business meetings, and networking activities.

Organized every two years by the Inter-Progress Foundation on behalf of the Cameroonian government, Promote has grown into the largest economic forum in Cameroon and the wider Central African region. The event now attracts about 1,000 exhibitors from both Cameroon and abroad.

Participants from the public and private sectors represent a wide range of industries, including agriculture and agribusiness, energy, manufacturing, construction, mining, infrastructure, information and communication technologies, healthcare, banking, finance, insurance, tourism, crafts, and communications.

Source: Business in Cameroon

17, June 2026

Kenya Airways suspends Cameroon flights ⁰

From June 19, Kenya Airways will suspend all flights to Douala, Cameroon, as part of efforts to optimise its network.

Affected passengers will be allowed to apply for a refund before August 31.

They may also change their booking to a different routing. The new travel dates must be made and tickets reissued by August 31.

Passengers to and from Douala may reroute on Ethiopian Airlines or Air Côte d’Ivoire.

Culled from Travelnews

17, June 2026

Yaoundé: US ambassador signals shift from aid to investment ⁰

The United States is stepping up efforts to expand trade and investment ties with Cameroon, positioning itself as a business partner rather than a traditional aid donor. At a conference organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon (AmCham) during the PROMOTE 2026 Enterprise Fair in Yaounde on June 16, John Robinson, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Cameroon, said Washington is prioritising investment, financing and private-sector partnerships to drive economic growth in Cameroon and across Africa.

Robinson said US agencies continue to support trade, export promotion, project financing and entrepreneurship while encouraging American companies to pursue opportunities in Cameroon through partnerships with local businesses. He added that Washington’s approach to commercial diplomacy in Africa centres on mutually beneficial economic partnerships designed to stimulate sustainable growth and create opportunities for businesses on both sides.

“Washington’s vision for commercial diplomacy in Africa is clear. We want to be a reliable partner for economic growth, one that emphasises mutually beneficial trade, investment and technology transfer rather than aid. We recognise that a thriving private sector is the engine of economic growth,” Robinson said.

He noted that agencies including the US Commercial Service, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Small Business Administration remain active in supporting entrepreneurs, facilitating trade and connecting American companies with opportunities across Africa.

According to Robinson, the US Embassy works closely with AmCham Cameroon to strengthen the country’s business ecosystem and create conditions that allow both American and Cameroonian companies to expand their operations. He said the objective is to help local firms benefit from American expertise, technology and investment while encouraging US companies to increase their presence in the Cameroonian market.

Cameroon positioned for expanded commercial partnerships

Robinson described Cameroon as a strategic economic partner and said the participation of American businesses at PROMOTE reflected growing interest in the country’s commercial opportunities. He encouraged Cameroonian firms to engage with AmCham and the embassy’s commercial services to explore programmes designed to support expansion into new markets and investment partnerships.

“AmCham’s presence sends a clear signal that American companies are ready to compete, partner and succeed in Cameroon. Together, we can build a stronger and more dynamic US-Cameroon economic partnership,” Robinson said.

Speaking to reporters after the conference, AmCham Cameroon President Laure Djoukam said several US agencies continue to provide support for bilateral trade and investment through financing facilities, business matchmaking and commercial promotion programmes.

She cited the DFC’s role in financing projects and joint ventures involving American and Cameroonian partners, as well as support from the Export-Import Bank for projects involving equipment and products sourced from the United States. Djoukam noted that while some requirements have evolved under the current US administration, particularly regarding American content in supported projects, the agencies remain actively engaged in promoting trade.

“We have concrete achievements. Companies have been established following trade missions and business missions, particularly in agribusiness, processing and poultry production. There is also activity in the energy sector and a major hotel project being developed through American financing,” Djoukam said.

She pointed to developments in agribusiness, poultry production, energy and hospitality as examples of investments linked to business missions and commercial exchanges between the two countries. Among the projects cited was the construction of a major Radisson hotel supported through American financing.

While Cameroon remains outside the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) framework, business leaders at the conference expressed optimism that efforts to restore the country’s eligibility could further strengthen trade relations. In the meantime, officials say ongoing investments in key sectors suggest that commercial engagement between the United States and Cameroon continues to expand through private-sector partnerships, financing arrangements and business development initiatives.

Source: Business in Cameroon

16, June 2026

Yaoundé earns CFA15 billion from Chad Oil Pipeline transit fees in 5 months ⁰

Cameroon collected CFA15.1 billion in transit fees from the transport of Chadian crude oil between January and May 2026, according to data reviewed by Business in Cameroon.

Monthly revenue reached CFA2.94 billion in January, CFA3.52 billion in February, CFA2.85 billion in March, CFA2.83 billion in April, and CFA2.95 billion in May. The latest figures extend a positive trend recorded earlier in the year. By the end of April, transit fees had already generated CFA12.15 billion for the Cameroonian Treasury, up CFA1.2 billion, or 11%, from the same period in 2025.

According to the Petroleum Products Pricing Stabilization Fund (CPSP), the increase reflects sustained crude oil volumes moving from Chad’s oil fields to Cameroon’s Atlantic coast through the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.

Between January and April 2026, about 16.1 million barrels of crude oil were transported through the 1,080-kilometer pipeline. As a landlocked country, Chad relies heavily on the pipeline to export its crude oil to international markets. The oil is transported to the offshore terminal at Kribi in southern Cameroon, where it is loaded onto tankers for export. In return for the use of its territory, Cameroon receives a transit fee on every barrel shipped through the pipeline. The fee currently stands at $1.321 per barrel.

The current rate is the result of negotiations launched by Cameroon in 2013 to secure periodic increases in the tariff. When the pipeline entered service, the transit fee was set at just $0.41 per barrel. The rate was subsequently revised upward in 2013 and again in 2018, reaching its current level.

Under the agreement between the two countries, another review of the tariff was expected to take effect from October 1, 2023. As crude volumes continue to move through the pipeline, the issue of a new increase in transit fees could return to discussions between Yaoundé and N’Djamena.

Source: Business in Cameroon