A Francophone member of cabinet has officially opened the International Forum on Digital Economy holding in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital. The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, René Emmanuel Sadi, on behalf of the 84 year dictator, Paul Biya honored the three day meeting grouping start-uppers, experts, investors and government agencies organized on the theme “How can Cameroon successfully develop a digital economy.”

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that the forum is a follow up to the failed program “Invest in Cameroon: Land of attractiveness” that held in Yaoundé in 2016.  Cameroon state radio and television reported that start-uppers and potential investors have been reviewing partnership and convention are being finalized with multinationals.

Experts from Canada, USA and other countries that have excelled in the digital domain are exchanging notes and coaching the less experienced participants in attendance. Among the many experts present is the Former Vice Prime Minister of Canada, Hon. Sheila Copps who some reports have suggested is very determined to share best practices from her time in government with Cameroon. One of the leading American social media platforms LinkedIn is also represented in the forum by Sarah Clatterbuck who has had meetings with Cameroonian digital engineers.

The forum has also provided visibility to several startups while the Cameroon Francophone dominated government has been fed with more ideas on how to develop the digital sector which is currently the fastest growing in the world.

By Sonne Peter with files from CRTV