CAMEROON Trends and Developments Contributed by: Lynda Amadagana, Elise Ngo Nyobe, Hervée Belinga and Abel Esseba, Amadagana & Partners
Amadagana & Partners Rue 6.103, Golf-Bastos, P.O. Box 35580, Yaoundé 11 Boulevard Sébastopol, 75001 Paris France Tel: +237 655 22 31 41 Email: contact@amadaganapartners.com Web: amadaganapartners.com
Often referred to as “Africa in miniature”, Cameroon has a relatively diversified economy and significant structural strengths. These include abundant natural resources (forests, oil, gas, minerals and fertile agricul - tural land), a strategic geographic position in Central Africa with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, and a young and rapidly growing population of approxi - mately 30 million. Taken together, these advantages position Cameroon as the leading economic power within the CEMAC region. For its economic and social development, Cam - eroon adopted a long-term vision in 2009 with the aim of becoming “an emerging, democratic and unit - ed country in its diversity by 2035”. This ambitious vision seeks to achieve near double-digit economic growth, to reach the threshold of 25% as the share of manufacturing output in GDP ( Produit Interieur Brut – PIB), to significantly reduce poverty to below 10% by 2035, and to further consolidate democratic governance while strengthening national unity in the context of diversity. The first phase of implementation of this vision was through the Growth and Employ - ment Strategy Paper (GESP) ( Document de Strategie pour la Croissance et l ’ Emploi – DSCE), which served as the country’s overarching policy framework for the period 2010–2019. With the GESP reaching its term on 31 December 2019, the Cameroonian government adopted a new strategic framework on 1 January 2020: the National Development Strategy 2021–2030 (NDS30). This sets out the key aspects of the structural transformation
of the economy, with 18 priority sectors identified by the government. According to the IMF Staff Report No 26/81 for the 2026 Article IV Consultations, published in May 2026, Cameroon’s economy has demonstrated nota - ble resilience to external economic shocks in recent years. Growth in 2025 was estimated at 3.1%, which was below expectations due to election-related unrest that disrupted trade, services and investment. How - ever, inflation declined to an average of 3.4% by end- December 2025, driven by moderation in food and transport prices. Investment Incentives By virtue of Ordinance No 2025/002 of 18 July 2025, Cameroon has adopted a new regulatory framework governing investment incentives. According to the provisions of Article 1, the Ordinance aims to encour - age, promote and attract productive investment. It seeks to develop activities geared towards fostering strong, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, as well as employment. The Ordinance applies equally to both domestic and foreign investors. Investment projects initiated by public companies operating in competitive sectors are also eligible under the provi - sions of the Ordinance. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of the Ordi - nance, the investment sectors eligible for the benefits provided under this law are defined on the basis of national strategic priorities, in particular, those relating to the following sectors:
147 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook