Cameroon has called for an expanded partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to accelerate investment-led industrial development, strengthen industrial competitiveness and enhance the country’s readiness to benefit from regional trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), according to a press release issued by UNIDO. During a week of high-level discussions held in Yaoundé and Douala from 8 to 12 June 2026, the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development of Cameroon, Fuh Calistus Gentry, identified UNIDO as a key partner in supporting the country’s industrial transformation. The Minister called for the formulation of a comprehensive technical assistance programme to advance these priorities. The engagements gathered government institutions, private sector representatives, financial institutions and development partners. Their shared goal was to explore pathways for strengthening Cameroon’s investment ecosystem and support sustainable industrial growth.
The engagements were organized under the ACP Business-Friendly Programme and funded by the European Union and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). A central theme was the shift from investment attraction toward a broader investment facilitation approach. This new direction emphasizes investor support, retention and reinvestment. Participants highlighted the need to strengthen investor outreach, improve export support and enable greater integration of enterprises into regional and global value chains. Digital tools, including UNIDO’s Investment Platform, were highlighted as important enablers for more effective investor outreach and targeting.
The launch of the UNIDO report, Cameroon’s Business Climate at a Glance, provided evidence supporting this direction. Based on a survey of 75 companies, the findings highlight a strong existing investor base. The report noted over USD 86 million in past reinvestments and nearly USD 167 million in planned reinvestments. Stakeholders also discussed the role of industrial zones, emphasizing the need for these zones to evolve beyond land provision. Participants called for integrated service platforms combining infrastructure, digital governance, business services and structured investor support.
A second report, MAGZI Industrial Zones in Cameroon: Evidence, Performance and Development Priorities, further informed discussions on industrial zone modernization. Covering nine industrial zones, the study assessed infrastructure conditions, productivity and investment performance. Participants also explored innovative financing models, including blended finance approaches that mobilize public and private capital. These approaches can help de-risk investments and support new public and private partnerships for the development and management of industrial zones. Site visits to the Bassa and Bonabéri Industrial Zones in Douala connected analytical findings with operational realities and engaged directly with enterprises.
UNIDO is supporting Cameroon’s efforts through technical assistance, institutional capacity building and practical tools for investment facilitation, industrial zone modernization, feasibility assessments, investment project preparation and appraisal, and gender lens investing. The week’s engagements reflect a shared commitment among national institutions and development partners to strengthen Cameroon’s industrial ecosystem. Public-private dialogue sessions helped identify concrete priorities for future interventions. By combining investment facilitation, industrial zone modernization, institutional coordination and innovative financing, Cameroon is advancing toward a more competitive and investment-ready industrial future. This renewed strategic direction is expected to inform further work with MAGZI and other partners.