Foreign Direct Investments: IPA unveils report showcasing strong investor confidence, expansion plans.

The report was presented in Yaounde Tuesday, during a joint IPA-United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, conference.

The 144-page report is titled: “Cameroon’s Business Climate at a Glance: Evidence from the UNIDO-IPA Cameroon Pilot Surveys of Foreign Direct Investment Enterprises”.

It was jointly produced by the IPA and UNIDO under the ACP Business-Friendly Programme funded by the European Union, EU, and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

Per the document, the study draws on data collected between 2023 and 2025 from 75 FDI enterprises and is designed to provide a practical framework for investment retention, investor support and institutional coordination. 

It added that nearly half of the enterprises were classified as strong investment anchors and accounted for more than 92 per cent of total employment recorded in the survey.

The report found that FDI firms showed a strong appetite for expansion. It revealed that past reinvestments among surveyed firms amounted to US$86.1 million (48.81 billion CFA Francs), while planned reinvestments over the coming years totalled US$166.8 million (94.57 billion CFA Francs). 

The document furthered that although 68 per cent of firms indicated intentions to expand operations, only 44 per cent had translated those ambitions into concrete investment plans.

In the foreword to the report, UNIDO Director General, Gerd Müller, said the findings provide a foundation for more responsive investment facilitation and institutional coordination. 

He noted that Cameroon possesses the characteristics required to become a regional investment hub and stressed the importance of supporting existing investors alongside efforts to attract new capital.

“Cameroon’s strategic geographic location, industrial base, entrepreneurial dynamism and access to regional markets provide strong foundations for growth. Realising this potential means more than simply attracting new investment; it also means supporting enterprises already operating in the country and enabling them to expand, reinvest and create jobs,” Müller said.

Enter IPA Interim General Manager

In his foreword, IPA Interim General Manager, Boma Donatus, stressed that the report is a strategic tool designed to strengthen understanding of investment dynamics and improve decision-making.

“The survey provides a reliable overview of the productive sector. Beyond quantitative findings, the report highlights job creation levers, operators’ expansion prospects and opportunities for deeper integration into regional and global value chains,” Boma stated.

Speaking to reporters after the presentation, Boma said the survey revealed encouraging signals regarding investor behaviour. 

According to him, many companies surveyed expressed a willingness to reinvest, expand operations, create jobs and increase exports.

“Companies surveyed wanted to create new jobs, expand their activities and had potential for exportation. At the same time, they indicated a need for stronger aftercare services and closer support from stakeholders within the investment ecosystem,” Boma underscored.

To him the findings demonstrated that existing investors remain committed to expanding their presence. Boma hoped that the data would help guide policy discussions and improve services delivered to investors.

“Foreign companies still want to invest, enlarge their investments, create jobs and reinvest in the country, but they require support that will enable them to realise those ambitions. This report is intended to inform the decisions of policymakers, investors and development partners. Together, let us turn these insights into concrete actions to help build a more resilient, competitive and sustainably prosperous Cameroonian economy,” Boma stated.

UNIDO says results positive 

Addressing stakeholders during the ceremony, the Head of Sustainable Investments and Responsible Business Unit at UNIDO, Stefan Kratzsch, said the survey results pointed to positive prospects for investment retention and expansion. 

He told reporters that investors already operating in the country were demonstrating a clear commitment to remaining and growing their activities.

“This is an important asset that the country can leverage. We must work with investors hand in hand and help them transform their investment plans into tangible investments that benefit the economy and create prosperity,” Kratzsch said.

During his address, he noted that surveyed firms employed more than 24,000 workers and represented a mature investor base with strong international connections. 

He also pointed to the gap between expansion intentions and actual investment plans as an area requiring targeted support from public institutions.

Zoom on report

The report profiles 75 enterprises employing a combined 24,430 workers, with a median company age of 21 years. Forty-five of the firms operate within industrial parks or industrial zones, while 70 reported some form of foreign ownership.

European investors accounted for 42.7 per cent of surveyed enterprises and 44.6 per cent of employment, while Asian investors represented 33.3 per cent of firms and 33.6 per cent of employment. 

Regional African investors made up a smaller share of enterprises but still contributed significantly to employment.

According to the report, business confidence remained high, with 84 per cent of surveyed companies falling into the two highest confidence categories. 

However, the report noted that many firms continued to face challenges linked to finance, infrastructure, skills, logistics and export readiness.

The report concludes that investment retention, aftercare services, digitalisation of investor support systems and export-readiness programmes should form key priorities for strengthening the investment ecosystem and supporting future industrial growth.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3813 of Wednesday June 10, 2026