(Business in Cameroon) – On October 2, 2024, a partnership agreement was signed in Yaoundé between the Turkish and Cameroonian Businessmen’s International Association (Turcaba) and the Agro-Industrial Studies Group of the Etoundi Families of Cameroon (Geaifec). This partnership, facilitated by Commerce Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, aims to implement a comprehensive program focused on agro-pastoral activities, aquaculture, fisheries, livestock, and large-scale fishing. The main goal is to improve living conditions for rural populations through the industrialization of these sectors.
Fabrice Finuba, president of Turcaba, emphasized the project’s importance, stating, “We will accelerate this crucial project aimed at professionalizing five priority sectors. It addresses every aspect of the value chain, from production to marketing.” Established in 2009, Turcaba’s mission is to promote trade between Turkey and Cameroon.
Under this collaboration, Turcaba is committed to supporting GEAIFEC with financial and technical assistance and technology transfer. However, the total investment cost remains unspecified. Sources close to the ministry indicated that Turcaba will seek Turkish partners to help the group execute the program. They noted that the investment is significant, although the reported figure of over CFA500 billion from CRTV has not been confirmed.
Turcaba will also identify Turkish partners capable of providing necessary equipment and ensuring high-quality expertise throughout the program’s implementation, with a focus on skills and technology transfer. Additionally, the association will help secure additional funding for later phases of the program.
Jacques Etoundi Mbezele, CEO of GEAIFEC, highlighted the importance of working with experienced partners. “To achieve industrialization, a country needs key players who have already done what we aim to accomplish. We believe Turkey can assist us in reaching our goals,” he stated. Founded in 1998, GEAIFEC focuses on second-generation agriculture, which is central to Cameroon’s economic development strategies. The group manages 1,137,455.92 hectares of land across all ten regions, acquired in collaboration with local communities.
The program seeks to transform rural areas through industrial development in the five identified sectors, emphasizing product transformation. This integrated approach includes specialized departments at each stage of the value chain, from production to marketing, while adhering to international standards. The initiative aligns with the policy of import substitution and aims to support the National Development Strategy 2030 (SND30).
As part of its SND30, Cameroon aims to modernize agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture to enhance productivity in small farms and encourage the emergence of second-generation production units. Minister Mbarga Atangana noted that this initiative “contributes to the structural transformation of the Cameroonian economy as prescribed by President Paul Biya.” He also highlighted the project’s potential to regulate the national market and promote expansion into foreign markets, especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ultimately, this project seeks to energize the country’s agro-industrial sector while strengthening bilateral relations with Turkey.
