Recent heavy rains in Cameroon could impact both food and cash crop production, warns the National Observatory on Climate Change (Onacc) in its October 21-30 climate bulletin. The report highlights risks for key crops, including cocoa, palm oil, banana, and rubber, across various regions.

According to Onacc, Cameroon’s agricultural sector faces potential damage from intense rains and high winds, particularly in the Guinea high savannah, highlands, and forest zones with multimodal rainfall. The bulletin warns of “degradation and destruction of plantations, including banana, oil palm, rubber, and fruit trees.” Cocoa farmers in the southern region, a major production area, are at further risk, as rising humidity could lead to an “increase in cases of black pod rot” in cocoa plantations.

In the Soudano-Sahelian zone, Onacc also points to the dangers of flooding, which may damage or destroy crops, along with potential rotting and early germination of agricultural products. To help mitigate these impacts, Onacc urges farmers across the country to follow its agricultural calendar for the 2024 second growing season.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Orange Middle East and Africa and Mastercard announced a strategic partnership to drive digital payment growth across Africa by 2025. The initiative will begin in seven African countries, including two from Central Africa (Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR), and aims to expand access to digital financial services for millions of people.

Through this partnership, Orange Money customers can request a Mastercard debit card, either virtual or physical, linked to their mobile money accounts. These cards allow users to make both local and international purchases, whether in stores or online with retailers that accept Mastercard payments. Customers can apply for the card via Orange’s Max it app and pick it up at designated Orange Money Mastercard locations.

“With this collaboration, we’re delivering a major innovation for our customers, enabling them to use Mastercard-linked Orange Money accounts to make online purchases worldwide,” said Aminata Kane, CEO of Orange Money Group for Africa and the Middle East. “The simplicity and security of using the virtual Mastercard paves the way for new opportunities and promotes financial independence.”

In the CEMAC region, Cameroon leads in mobile money transactions, accounting for 71% of transactions (1.7 billion operations) and 55% of transaction value (CFA59,003 billion), according to a 2022 report. However, Orange and MTN Cameroon are in tight competition for market leadership. Orange Cameroon claims 70% of the market, with 10 million mobile money accounts and over 100,000 business partners. Meanwhile, MTN Cameroon also asserts its dominance, with CEO Mitwa Ng’ambi recently stating that MTN’s Mobile Money Corporation now has the country’s largest active user base.

Source: Business in Cameroon

In September 2024, consumer prices in Cameroon increased by 0.8% compared to the previous month. This rise marks a shift after 14 months of declining inflation. The report, released on October 23 by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), attributes this inflation increase to the higher prices of local goods and services.

As a result of this change, the inflation rate in Cameroon stood at 4.4% compared to September 2023. INS highlighted that this sudden rise breaks the trend of decline. It is mainly due to a 5.9% increase in food prices and an 11.2% jump in transportation costs.

The new INS data indicates that Cameroon’s inflation rate in September 2024 remains above the 3% threshold accepted in the CEMAC region, which includes Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic.

Source: Business in Cameroon

In 2023, Camtel, Orange, and MTN Cameroon invested a total of CFA185 billion to improve their networks. Despite this massive investment, service quality has continued to decline, frustrating many consumers. These figures were revealed on October 11 by Minette Libom Li Likeng, Cameroon’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, during a press briefing following her visit to the operators’ facilities. Camtel, the state-owned telecom company, led the investment with CFA117 billion, followed by Orange with CFA38 billion and MTN with CFA30 billion. 

The amount invested in 2023 exceeded the CFA156 billion the operators had initially forecast in December 2022. Despite the larger-than-expected investments, consumers have reported worsening issues, including frequent network interruptions, slow internet, dropped calls, and poor voice quality. “Recently, complaints about service quality have increased. People are facing frequent network outages, slow internet, and bad call quality,” said Minister Libom Li Likeng during the press conference. 

When asked about the reasons for these ongoing problems, the operators and regulators pointed to both internal and external factors. As external issues, they cited power outages, fuel shortages, and repeated disruptions to the fiber optic network managed by Camtel. Internally, delays in expanding fiber connections, insufficient investment in critical areas, poor maintenance of infrastructure, slow response to customer complaints, and overloaded urban networks were highlighted. 

In response, Minister Libom Li Likeng has laid out a series of measures to help improve the telecom sector. She emphasized that quality service in telecommunications is essential for consumer satisfaction and the growth of the digital economy in Cameroon. The minister instructed regulators to enforce stricter compliance with operator contracts, improve collaboration between operators and regulators, upgrade consumer complaint management systems, and better monitor the operators’ infrastructure. 

For Orange and MTN, the government recommended increasing investments in priority areas, targeting key regions with strategic equipment, optimizing the use of the dark fiber provided by Camtel, improving customer service, and enhancing real-time monitoring of network sites. Educating customers on how to use available services was also advised. 

Despite Camtel’s heavy investments CFA117 billion in 2023 and a planned CFA109 billion for 2024 the results have been disappointing. The company has struggled with network expansion and ongoing service quality problems, prompting questions about the effectiveness of its investments. The minister urged Camtel to meet its contractual obligations, protect its infrastructure with physical surveillance mechanisms, offer transparent pricing, and expand its international connectivity options.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Brussels Airlines recently welcomed Daheru Mamman as the new station manager for Cameroon, effective October 1. With more than 22 years of experience in the aviation industry, Mamman is not new to the airline. He previously served as the station manager at Nsimalen International Airport in Yaoundé, where he developed a strong reputation for excellent service.

Expressing his excitement about the new role, Mamman said, “I am honored to take on this opportunity with Brussels Airlines. I look forward to working with our dedicated teams to provide exceptional service and ensure smooth operations while prioritizing the safety and comfort of our passengers.” His passion for the job and commitment to customer satisfaction shines through in his words.

In this new position, Mamman will oversee daily operations at both Nsimalen and Douala airports. He will manage the staff and introduce initiatives aimed at boosting efficiency and enhancing the overall customer experience. He is also dedicated to creating a collaborative workplace that encourages innovation and teamwork, believing that a united team can achieve great things.

Younes Louahrani, the managing director of Brussels Airlines in Cameroon, shared his enthusiasm for Mamman’s appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Daheru Mamman as our new station manager in Cameroon. With his leadership and experience, we are confident that we will continue to enhance our service offerings and strengthen our position as a leading airline in Cameroon.”

Brussels Airlines, a proud member of the Lufthansa Group, operates daily flights that connect Cameroon to various destinations in Europe, North America, Canada, and beyond. However, passengers should be aware that starting in 2025, the airline plans to implement an environmental surcharge on its fares. This surcharge, ranging from €1 to €72 per flight, will be applied to all flights departing from European airports, including those bound for Cameroon.

Source: Business in Cameroon

The Chamber of Economic Cooperation of World Diasporas (Ccediam), a French organization, has announced the first edition of the World Diaspora Business Summit. The event will be held in Paris on November 14-15, 2024, in partnership with the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Handicrafts (Ccima). The summit, under the theme “Business from the Heart of Africa, Cameroon,” aims to boost economic ties between Cameroon and its diaspora.

Christophe Eken, President of Ccima, emphasized the importance of the event. He stated, “This forum will be an opportunity to initiate business contacts, form partnerships, explore investment opportunities, and strengthen cooperation between our communities.”

The summit’s goals are broad and impactful. It aims to solidify relationships between African and European entrepreneurs, encourage trade, promote entrepreneurship, and develop partnerships beneficial to all parties. “The World Diaspora Business Summit 2024 will give participants the chance to discover business opportunities in various countries, share expertise, and build strategic connections,” the organizers said. The event will feature thematic conferences led by opinion leaders and experts, along with networking sessions to facilitate meaningful connections.

Cameroon’s diaspora, estimated at five million people, is known for being dynamic and highly organized. “Our diaspora is not homogeneous. We have all the skills and expertise needed for Cameroon’s development. Its contribution is not just economic. It can be intellectual, in fields like research, education, medicine, engineering, and much more,” said Louis Henri Ngantcha, a Member of Parliament and president of the Network of Parliamentarians for Diaspora and Cross-Border Cooperation, in an interview with Cameroon Tribune. The Cameroonian diaspora is recognized by authorities as a key player in achieving the goals of the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (SND30). In 2023, more than 102,000 Cameroonian immigrants were registered in France, according to France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), with a significant number of them being highly skilled.

Remittances from the diaspora are a vital financial resource for many families in Cameroon. These transfers especially help the most vulnerable members of society, improving their living conditions. Even during economic crises in host countries, these financial flows remain stable, less affected by fluctuations than foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2022, remittances amounted to $365 million (over CFA215 billion), an increase of 5% from the previous year. While these figures are lower compared to other African diasporas, like Nigeria’s, they still represent a significant economic resource that Cameroon can leverage for development.

The promotion of the “Cameroon-Europe World Diasporas Business Summit,” led by Ccediam, is built on ambitious efforts to mobilize the entrepreneurial African diaspora, economic actors in Africa, and European companies interested in exploring opportunities in Africa, particularly in Cameroon. This event is seen as a unique opportunity to showcase Cameroon’s economic potential, strengthen ties between the country and its diaspora, and highlight the advantages of a nation rich in potential.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Lagardère Travel Retail Western Africa, a subsidiary of French Lagardère group, has won a contract to design and manage the duty-free shops at Douala and Yaoundé international airports. The agreement, signed yesterday by Thomas Owona Assoumou, CEO of Aéroports du Cameroun (ADC), and Sountou Bousso, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Western Africa, covers 10 years.

This partnership enables ADC to meet travelers’ expectations by broadening the product selection provided by Lagardère. The agreement also includes upgrading the facilities, with plans to renovate retail spaces and provide a more modern shopping experience. Sountou Bousso emphasized, “This partnership allows us to bring our expertise to Cameroon’s airports by rethinking the retail spaces and enhancing the passenger experience.” The goal is to make Cameroon’s airports vibrant hubs where every traveler feels welcome.

Lagardère Travel Retail, which operates in over 40 countries and 250 airports, is a global leader in airport retail. The new deal, according to Thomas Owona Assoumou, “aligns with the modernization of Cameroon’s airport lounges, which began in 2022, to make the country more attractive to tourists.”

With Lagardère’s involvement, both airports will diversify their commercial offerings with new international and local brands. The deal is expected to boost ADC’s revenue through royalties. Assoumou also noted, “Lagardère will pay back 20% of the sales from local products, as well as a portion of the net profit”.

Source: Business in Cameroon

MTN Cameroon’s aim to deploy 5G connection is being hampered by a lack of a regulatory framework for the technology, according to the telco’s CEO, Mitwa Ng’ambi.

Ng’ambi pointed out that MTN is interested in delivering 5G to Cameroon as part of the group’s strategy to guarantee that the technologies it provides evolve with the times.

 “As a technology company, we are conscious that technology is evolving and those evolution of technology also open up new opportunities for consumers,” Ng’ambi said this during an interview with ITWeb Africa in Douala to commemorate her second anniversary as CEO of MTN Cameroon.

According to Ng’ambi, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is leading the effort to introduce 5G technology in Cameroon, and progress has been achieved in terms of developing a regulatory framework for the technology to operate.

As a law-abiding operator, Ng’ambi said MTN will wait for the regulation to be passed before announcing its intentions. “It [5G] will come,” she said.

MTN Cameroon requested a 5G testing license from the Telecommunications Regulatory Board in 2019, but received no response, delaying the company’s goal of being the country’s first mobile network provider to offer 5G connectivity.

MTN Cameroon now operates 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, connecting 97% of the country’s population.

Source: itweb.Africa

Business association GICAM has expressed frustration over frequent inspections conducted by agents of the Ministry of Commerce.

In a statement released on August 23, GICAM President Célestin Tawamba said members had complained of “irregular seals and exorbitant fines” imposed by some ministry agents.

Following a meeting with ministry officials, GICAM urged businesses to report any such incidents to the association. The Ministry of Commerce has pledged to “clean up control practices.”

The ministry acknowledged that businesses have raised concerns about the number of inspections. However, it also noted that many businesses are not complying with regulations and opt to pay bribes rather than meet required standards.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Cameroon spent an estimated CFA13 billion to import vehicles from South Africa last year. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, the country imported a total of CFA46 billion worth of goods from this partner country during the period. Vehicles accounted for 29% of these imports, with 22% for trucks (CFA10 billion) and 7% for passenger cars (CFA3.2 billion).

This dynamic helped South Africa’s automotive industry gain ground in the Cameroonian market, where Asian and European vehicles have long dominated. It also positioned South Africa among the top three African suppliers to Cameroon in 2023, following Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco, which accounted for 16% and 10% of Cameroon’s import market, respectively, according to the INS.

Source: Business in Cameroon