To boost Made in Cameroon: Trade minister, BC-PME seal 400 million FCFA partnership.

The agreement provides an initial financial value of 400 million FCFA to support the implementation of the Integrated Agropastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan, PIISAH, in the trade sector.

The event brought together key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the government’s import-substitution strategy, including the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr Taïga; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Prof Grace Annih Mbong, representing the Minister.

Also present was the Director General of Planning and Regional Development at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Zoutene Doufene, who also serves as National Coordinator for the implementation of PIISAH.

The 400 million FCFA transferred by the Ministry of Trade to BC-PME for the 2026 financial year, officials said, is intended to translate government policy into concrete support for citizens’ businesses. 

The initiative, officials from the ministry said, follows the high instructions of President Paul Biya on the implementation of PIISAH, announced during his address to the nation on December 31, 2023.

The plan forms part of the orientations of the National Development Strategy 2020-2030, SND30, particularly the structural transformation of the economy, development of local value chains and strengthening of food sovereignty.

Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Mbarga Atangana noted that the agreement is part of a common determination to make trade an instrument of economic transformation and wealth creation, while improving the competitiveness of local businesses.

The member of government noted that the partnership also seeks to bridge the gap between production and markets. 

According to the minister, the country’s agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors possess considerable production potential. Yet, the country continues to depend heavily on imports to meet domestic demand for several basic commodities. 

PIISAH seeks to reverse this situation, by stimulating domestic production and creating stronger national value chains.

The minister noted that increasing production alone cannot guarantee import substitution. Producers, he said, must also have access to reliable markets and distribution systems capable of delivering goods to consumers at competitive prices.

The challenge, he said, lies at the heart of the new partnership. The Minister stressed that producing more is only one part of the process. 

Local products must also be processed, packaged, stored, transported and distributed efficiently, while meeting consumers’ expectations in terms of quality, traceability and availability.

The collaboration with BC-PME, he stated, is designed to strengthen the commercial link between producers and consumers. It will support economic operators in structuring and professionalising their distribution networks, with particular attention to strategic value chains.

Among the sectors identified are rice, maize, flour, palm oil and milk. These commodities occupy an important place in household consumption and represent areas where increased domestic production and better organisation of distribution could contribute to reducing import dependence.

The ambition is to encourage the emergence of businesses capable of managing the different stages between production and final consumption. This includes processing, packaging, storage, logistics and distribution.

Financing “Made in Cameroon” ambition

According to the minister, through the agreement, BC-PME becomes an important financial instrument for the government’s import-substitution policy. 

The technical and financial support provided under the partnership is expected to strengthen domestic commercial supply, improve the availability of locally produced goods and enhance the competitiveness of Cameroonian enterprises.

The initiative, the minister stated, is also intended to encourage businesses to adopt a more integrated approach to investment. He used the opportunity to call on economic operators not only to produce, but also to explore opportunities in processing, packaging, logistics and distribution.

This approach, Minister Mbarga Atangana said, is expected to give greater visibility to the “Made in Cameroon” agenda, by creating conditions for locally produced goods to compete more effectively on domestic markets.

The partnership also places food sovereignty at the centre of the government’s economic priorities. For him, by strengthening local supply chains, they hope to reduce exposure to international market fluctuations, while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, producers and other actors along the agricultural and fisheries value chains.

According to the Minister of Trade, the success of PIISAH will depend on coordinated action. He insisted that the state, professional organisations and private enterprises must work together to ensure that increased production translates into stronger domestic supply and greater economic value.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3890 of Wednesday August 26, 2026