The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is supporting Cameroon to facilitate access to trade information and take advantage of opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

                                                        ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ — 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 Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa, and financial support from the Open Society Foundations, is organizing a workshop in Douala on August 26 and 27, 2026, to validate new tools designed to facilitate economic operators’ access to trade information within the framework of 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 the difficulty of accessing regulatory information remain obstacles to their participation in continental trade. In this context, having practical, accessible, and regularly updated information is essential to enabling businesses to better understand the applicable requirements and seize 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 aim to 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,” stated Mr. Parfait Eppoh, Chief Negotiator and Focal Point of the National AfCFTA Implementation Committee in Cameroon, representing the Minister of Trade.

The workshop focuses on two complementary tools: a Step-by-Step Guide for trade in goods under the AfCFTA and a Trade Information Portal. The Guide aims to make trade procedures more understandable for economic operators, while the Portal will centralize relevant information and facilitate access to it.

These tools are part of the efforts undertaken by Cameroon since ratifying the AfCFTA Agreement in October 2019 and complement existing institutional mechanisms by providing businesses with practical tools to move from AfCFTA commitments to their effective implementation.

“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 simplify trade procedures and make information more accessible. The Step-by-Step Guide and the Trade Information Portal are concrete tools to bring the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA closer to Cameroonian businesses and facilitate their participation in intra-African trade,” stated Mr. Koffi A. Elitcha, Economic Affairs Officer at the ECA Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa.

The workshop will bring together representatives from the public and private sectors to gather their experiences and recommendations and ensure that the tools are relevant to the realities of trade in Cameroon. Discussions will focus on their content, clarity, accessibility, and ability to meet user 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 barriers and facilitating the effective use of the preferences and opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.

Distributed by APO Group for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).