Boosting production of Made in Cameroon military wears: Minister inaugurates ultramodern Army & Gendarmerie Central Tailoring Workshop.

The member of government cut the ribbon officially putting the Central Tailoring Workshop under the Logistics Reserve of Armed Forces and Gendarmerie in Yaounde yesterday. The workshop is located within the premises of the Joint Services Technical Training Centre, CFTA, at the Ekounou neighbourhood. 

Several members of government, top brass of the military, defence attaches of partner countries among other special guests, attended the ceremony at CFTA. 

Minister Beti Assomo, in his address, said the facility is part of a military-industrial architecture project flagged off by the ministry in line with the structural transformation pillar of the National Development Strategy, NDS 2020-2030. 

The goal, he said, is to reduce over dependence on foreign partners and to gradually make the forces autonomous in meeting the logistical needs generated by current and future security challenges.

The minister said the tailoring workshop marks a decisive turning point and a paradigm in the military “from a position of consumption to one of industrial production” and is an acceleration in the industrialisation process of the defence and security forces. 

Aside serving the army and the gendarmerie, the minister said the facility will also render services to uniformed personnel of customs, police force, the penitentiary administration, those of forestry and wildlife as well as and certain civilian professions. 

He said it will also produce branded gowns for the medical and paramedical personnel of the military hospitals, dispensaries, and infirmaries, and also school uniforms for the children of war victims. 

Manned by qualified personnel, including former military master tailors recalled to lend a hand and supervise the young staff, the minister said the facility has the capacity to produce 700 to 1,000 uniforms daily. 

He disclosed that some countries in Central African Subregion have already signalled their interest to have the outfits of their defence and security forces produced at the facility. 

The minister said the facility will also be open to hone the skills of students from technical schools during study visits or even internships.

While urging personnel of the facility to ensure appropriate maintenance the machines, the minister warned of heavy disciplinary sanctions on those who engage in any clandestine activity at the workshop.

Minister Beti Assomo inspecting production at the workshop 

Other giant projects earmarked 

Minister Beti Assomo also disclosed that several large-scale projects have been identified to be executed in the nearest future to enable the Ministry of Defence to better fulfil its sovereign missions.

He cited the project to construct and equipe a military footwear production workshop, a factory for manufacturing bulletproof vests and Type 4 ballistic plates, the already launched production of specimens of tactical armoured vehicles in liaison with a Douala-based local company with proven expertise, equipping of a factory for mechanical parts and joint-service equipment production. 

Beti Assomo also mentioned the finalisation of the maturation of three projects with a major foreign state-owned partner, viz; a scientific laboratory for the National Gendarmerie, a modern small-calibre rifle cartridge factory, and the construction of a textile and military uniform manufacturing plant which will facilitate the establishment of a genuine military textile industry. 

Contractor zooms of specificities of facility 

Works on the facility built on 1730 square metres commenced in July 2024 and were completed in April 2025. 

The contractor said the facility is entirely metallic, and features a system of turbines installed on the roof for air extraction. 

The structure, he said, is clad with siding, trapezoidal metal sheet roof covering 1100 square metres and interspersed with translucent polyester metal sheet sections measuring 1100 by 1500 square metres to facilitate natural lighting inside the building. 

He said it is also reinforced with concrete foundation while the floor is cast with reinforced concrete rated at 350 kilogrammes per cubic metre.

The workshop, he said, also comprises an entrance hall, an administrative area with three offices, a storage room, a stock room, an office for the storekeeper or materials accountant. 

It also has a cutting room where fabrics are laid out and cut according to the model required for tailoring, a four-sided glazed office for the head of the floor to supervise work without having to move around. There is also a tailoring zone where all the machines used for executing tasks are installed. 

It also has a quality control and packaging zone and a machine maintenance area alongside a toilet and washroom block. The structure is also positioned in a way that allows delivery and supply vehicles to drive around without difficulty. A masonry wall has also been erected to protect the various embankments.

The site is also equipped with emergency features, namely a 250 kVA generator and a borehole respectively, which can provide electricity or water in case of supply issues.

It is also equipped with new generation tailoring machines with machines with undeniable performance capabilities to professionalise and increase the production capacity. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3576 of Friday September 26, 2025