Economy

Gov’t, UK explore financing to boost timber processing, forestry SMEs.

Minister Bassilekin III (third from right) with UK with visiting delegation

The Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, has sought stronger cooperation with the United Kingdom to attract financing, modernise production equipment and expand local timber processing in Cameroon.
According to the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, MINPMEESA, the proposals were discussed during an audience granted by Minister Bassilekin III to Neil Scotland, Senior Forestry Adviser at the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO.

The initiative, MINPMEESA said, also seeks to strengthen forestry Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, SMEs, promote technology transfer and increase the production of higher-value wood products.

Scotland was accompanied by Samantha Smith, Deputy British High Commissioner and Chargé d'Affaires, and Euan McCarthy, Regional Climate and Environment Adviser for Central Africa.

The ministry said discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation to promote local timber processing, develop forestry SMEs and facilitate access to financing adapted to the needs of Cameroonian enterprises.

The two sides also examined opportunities for modernising production equipment and transferring technology to support businesses operating in the timber industry.

MINPMEESA said the cooperation initiative forms part of government efforts to promote the responsible use of forest resources while improving the competitiveness of local enterprises.

It is worth mentioning that the discussions come as Cameroon continues efforts to increase domestic timber processing and reduce exports of unprocessed wood.

According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics, NIS, Cameroon exported 762,007 tonnes of sawn timber in 2025, generating FCFA157.6 billion in revenue. During the same period, raw log exports fell to 349,611 tonnes, their lowest level in five years.

The latest cooperation initiative follows the signing of a partnership agreement between MINPMEESA and the Lomié Council in the East Region on October 6, 2026.

The agreement concerns the development of the SMEs Wood's Park in Lomié, a project designed to strengthen local timber processing and promote the manufacture of higher-value wood products.

According to MINPMEESA, the project seeks to support SMEs, artisans and social economy organisations involved in the timber value chain. It is also expected to encourage job creation, strengthen local production and provide opportunities for businesses operating in the forestry sector.

The initiative, it should be said, aligns with the government's industrialisation policy, which prioritises local transformation of raw materials to increase domestic value addition. The country has also introduced fiscal measures to encourage timber processing, including higher export duties on raw logs and customs incentives for imported wood-processing equipment.

According to MINPMEESA, the proposed cooperation with the United Kingdom is intended to support sustainable forest resource management, business competitiveness and economic development.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3948 of Friday October 23, 2026