At courtesy visit to PM: Belgian Ambassador pledges to up hold economic, trade ties with Cameroon.

The Prime Minister received Alain Leroy in the Star Building on Friday, October 11. The meeting marked the first official interaction between the Belgian envoy to Cameroon and the Star Building occupant. 

Ambassador Leroy, it should be noted, arrived Cameroon last August 15. The audience with the Prime Minister came after the presentation of his letter of accreditation to the Minister of External Relations, H.E Mbella Mbella. 

The Ambassador used the meeting with Dion Ngute to emphasise his commitment to strengthening economic ties between the two nations. 

"I will focus on economic diplomacy, trade relations and try to intensify these trade relations," the diplomat said.

He also expressed the intention to encourage more Belgian companies, especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, SMEs, to invest in Cameroon in a bid to foster economic growth between both countries. 

It should be noted that diplomatic ties between Belgium and Cameroon extends beyond trade to include areas such as agriculture, education, and the green economy. 

During a working visit in May 2022, the Director for Africa at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Franck Felix, had also reiterated Belgium’s desire to deepen economic cooperation with Cameroon in these sectors.

Based on recent statistics, commercial exchanges between Cameroon and Belgium have seen steady growth over the years. Between 2017 and 2022, trade volume between the two countries increased by 7.7% annually, rising from approximately 122.3 billion FCFA to about 178.1 billion FCFA.

Cameroon’s primary exports to Belgium include petroleum gas, sawn wood, and cocoa beans, while Belgium supplies Cameroon with refined petroleum products, electrical appliances, and cosmetic goods. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3262 of Thursday October 17, 2024