Ahead of third edition of fair: Mboa Paris set to strengthen diaspora investment for impactful, visible results.

The fair is scheduled to take place from May 28 to 31, 2025, in Paris. The third edition aims to connect and unite Cameroonian talents from the diaspora.

Activities to take place during the four-day event include, B2B meetings and conferences strategically designed to encourage networking and the formation of lasting synergies between diaspora actors and local and international stakeholders.

The programme also includes conferences, workshops, and plenary sessions to facilitate the sharing of expertise and strengthen cohesion within the diaspora community, and exhibitions to promote the skills and innovative projects of Cameroonians.

The Founder and President of Mboa Paris, Fatimatou Ousmanou Samba, in an interview with the Mutations Newspaper, revealed that the creation of this fair is to foster collaboration and create impactful initiatives for Cameroon. 

Fatimatou added that the upcoming edition of Mboa Paris promises a dynamic programme designed to celebrate Cameroonian excellence and engage the diaspora in crucial discussions for the collective transformation of Cameroon.

She revealed that since its creation in 2023, Mboa Paris has become a vital platform, attracting over 3,000 Cameroonians in Paris annually, and serves as a showcase for Cameroonian ingenuity and enhances the country's image on the international stage, particularly among younger generations.

Fatimatou stated that: “Cameroon, through its diaspora, possesses remarkable talents that shine and elevate the country's reputation abroad. We asked ourselves what could be done to enable this diaspora to connect, unite, and establish a framework for high-impact initiatives for Cameroon, and so we asked Cameroonians with projects that can positively influence the country should reach out to us”.

Reflecting on the progress of Mboa Paris, Fatimatou Ousmanou Samba, said: “During the last edition, various institutions travelled from Cameroon to explain their work to the diaspora. We had the Director-General of SIC and the Investment Promotion Agency among others, who recognised the power and influence of the diaspora”.

She emphasised that Mboa Paris provides a platform for Cameroonian institutions to inform the diaspora about their activities and how the diaspora can benefit.

“Many Cameroonians in the diaspora criticise Cameroon simply because they lack information about the initiatives being undertaken for their benefit. And so, this event is for the Cameroonian diaspora to collectively consider how to structure the flow of money sent to our country to achieve more visible and impactful results,” she explained.

Fatimatou added that looking ahead, a key focus of Mboa Paris is to explore how the Cameroonian diaspora can collectively structure their financial contributions to achieve more significant and visible impact on the country.

She added that: "The diasporas of other African countries are already structured in this way, but ours is not. Other diasporas are organised to channel these flows to their countries. We send them individually. However, if we were to structure these remittances, they could have a greater impact on our nation". 

The third edition, Fatimatou said, will be a significant step towards strengthening the ties between the Cameroonian diaspora and their homeland, fostering collaboration, and exploring avenues for impactful investment and development.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3456 of Monday May 26, 2025