Douala, 26 August 2026 (ECA). The Ministry of Trade of Cameroon, with technical support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and its Subregional Office for Central Africa, and financial support from the Open Society Foundations, convene a workshop in Douala on 26–27 August 2026 to validate new tools aimed at facilitating economic operators’ access to trade information under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For many Cameroonian businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), women and young entrepreneurs, the complexity of trade procedures and difficulties in accessing regulatory information remain significant barriers to their participation in continental trade. In this context, access to practical, user-friendly and regularly updated information is essential to help businesses better understand applicable requirements and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.
“The effective implementation of the AfCFTA is a priority for Cameroon. The Step-by-Step Guide and the Trade Information Portal will help improve access to trade information, simplify procedures and strengthen the capacity of Cameroonian economic operators to better understand the requirements and seize the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA,” said Mr. Parfait Eppoh, Chief Negotiator and focal point of Cameroon’s National AfCFTA Implementation Committee, representing the Minister of Trade.
The workshop focuses on two complementary instruments: a Step-by-Step Guide for Trading in Goods under the AfCFTA and a Trade Information Portal. The Guide aims to make trade procedures easier for economic operators to understand, while the Portal will centralize relevant information and facilitate access to it.
These tools build on Cameroon’s efforts since the ratification of the AfCFTA Agreement in October 2019 and complement existing institutional mechanisms by providing businesses with practical tools to translate AfCFTA commitments into effective use.
“The AfCFTA offers Cameroon a major opportunity to expand its markets, diversify its exports and strengthen its participation in African value chains. But for these opportunities to become a reality for businesses, it is essential to make trade procedures simpler and information more accessible. The Step-by-Step Guide and the Trade Information Portal are practical tools to bring AfCFTA opportunities closer to Cameroonian businesses and facilitate their participation in intra-African trade,” said Mr. Koffi A. Elitcha, Economic Affairs Officer at ECA’s Subregional Office for Central Africa.
The workshop will bring together representatives from the public and private sectors to share their experiences and recommendations and ensure that the tools respond to the realities of trade in Cameroon. Discussions will focus, among other things, on their content, clarity, accessibility and ability to meet users’ needs.
Beyond validating the tools, the initiative aims to contribute to broader and more inclusive participation of Cameroonian businesses in intra-African trade by reducing information-related barriers and facilitating the effective use of the preferences and opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org