Cameroon makes strong debut at Africa Singapore Business Forum 2025.

This milestone participation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Investment Promotion Agency, IPA, of Cameroon under the leadership of its Acting Director General, Shinwin Soh Boma Donatus and AD Offices and Holding Group LTD, a Business Development and Strategic consultancy firm headquartered in Yaounde.

AD Offices and Holding Group LTD, under the leadership of its Founder and Executive Director, Marlon AD Mengot, has been representing Enterprise Singapore in Cameroon and the CEMAC region for the past 16 months. 

The firm has been working closely with Enterprise Singapore to facilitate Cameroon’s participation with IPA, while promoting Foreign Direct Investments into the region.

The three-day forum, themed: “Bridging Capabilities, Charting Sustainable Growth”, brought together government officials and business leaders from across Africa and Singapore to explore investment opportunities and strengthen economic ties.

The Investment Promotion Agency, IPA, of Cameroon participated in the Track #1: West & Central Africa panel conversation. 

The Head of the Monitoring-Evaluation and Strategy Division at IPA, Bitchoka Nkak Calvin, represented the agency’s Acting Director General, Shinwin Soh Boma Donatus.

During his presentation, Bitchoka highlighted Cameroon’s macroeconomic context, investment opportunities, and business climate reforms. 

He noted that Cameroon’s GDP growth is estimated at 3.8% in 2024 with a per capita GDP of 1,467 CFAF. The country has seen net inward investment of FCFA 571.9 billion in 2024, representing a 15.7% increase compared to 2023.

“Cameroon offers abundant and diverse natural resources, tax and customs incentives, and high agricultural potential with 7.2 million hectares of arable land,” Bitchoka stated during his presentation. 

He also emphasised recent business climate reforms, including the digitalization of public services and infrastructure development in priority sectors.

The Cameroonian delegation included several businesses mobilized by AD Offices and Holding Group LTD in partnership with IPA, Cameroon.

Strengthening institutional linkages

In her opening address, Singapore’s Minister Grace Fu emphasised the importance of strengthening institutional linkages between Africa and Southeast Asia.

“As two similarly large, young and fast-growing regions, Africa and Southeast Asia can work together and build on complementary strengths. Africa’s abundant resources and young population combined with Southeast Asia’s growing consumption and manufacturing capabilities create immense potential for collaboration,” Fu stated.

She also highlighted Singapore’s efforts to expand connections through trade agreements, mentioning that Singapore’s Bilateral Investment Treaties with Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria had formally entered into force that week.

Africa as a viable market

The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, delivered a keynote address underscoring Africa’s position as a dynamic emerging market.

“Africa and Singapore must be champions of open markets, trusted rules, and practical partnerships that deliver jobs, technology transfer, and shared prosperity for our people,” Mahama stated. 

He added that: “The continent is the world’s most dynamic emerging market today, with 1.4 billion people, young, fast urbanizing, digitally connected, with a rapidly growing middle class”.

Mahama noted that Africa-Singapore trade grew by 50% between 2020 and January 2025 to nearly $14 billion, with West Africa accounting for more than half of that volume.

He proposed five practical pillars for collaboration between Africa and Singapore: efficient green supply chains, agribusiness and food systems, clean energy and carbon markets, digital economy and services, and advanced manufacturing in critical minerals.

New partnerships formed

After attending the ASBF 2025, the Operations Manager, Maritime Oil and Gas Solutions Ltd, Ambomo Christin Alex Junior, said it was a worthwhile event.

“It was a fantastic experience indeed. Thanks for building bridges upon which Cameroonian companies like ours are now moving to greater impact and achievements,” Ambomo said.  

The Executive Director of AD Offices and Holding Group LTD, Marlon AD Mengot, played a crucial role in mobilizing Cameroonian businesses for the forum. 

“AD Offices was honoured to have played an active role in partnership with their strategic partner IPA Cameroon under the leadership of the Acting Director of IPA, Shinwin Soh Boma Donatus. It was a blessing to meet Singaporean companies like Tolaram, Penguin International Limited, Nimbus Services Pte Ltd and more,” he stated.

The presentation of the representative of IPA boss at the forum highlighted that the agency has approved over 450 companies under the Investment Charter scheme, with projected inward investment flows exceeding 7,700 billion CFAF and creating just over 180,000 jobs. 

Approximately 65% of these supported projects are in the agro-industry sector, with 10% in infrastructure and 25% in energy, digital economy, and tourism.

The ASBF 2025 served as a platform for Cameroon to showcase its investment potential and ongoing economic reforms as the country continues to position itself as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment in Central Africa.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3572 of Monday September 22, 2025