PROMOTE 2022: MINPMEESA SEEKS NEW OPPURTUNITIES FOR CAMEROONIAN SMEs

MINPMEESA > News > PROMOTE 2022: MINPMEESA SEEKS NEW OPPURTUNITIES FOR CAMEROONIAN SMEs

The Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts has marked its present in the 8th edition of the ongoing Promote fair taking place at the Yaoundé Congress Hall under the theme “the industrialization of Africa, a key to the emergence of the Continent”. As part of the activities related to this fair, the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille BASSILEKIN III chaired several events on the Promote fair ground.

Firstly, was the first edition of the Business Africalink meetings which was launched on February 22nd 2022 at the Yaoundé Congress Hall under the patronage of Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III. These business meetings are an initiative of Africalink which is a network of 200 African and European companies based in Marseille. In the course of these meetings, a convention to open up new opportunities for Cameroonian and French SMEs was jointly signed between the Africalink and the Cameroonian Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Forest. According to the President of Cameroonian Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Forest, this convention is an opportunity for SMEs to develop joint projects, particularly in the processing of raw materials in the agri-food, digital, industrial and renewable energy sectors.

On February 23rd 2022, Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III also chaired a ceremony on the presentation of projects of the Cameroonian Diaspora residing in Italy that took place at the multifunctional space of Casa Italia. In the course of this ceremony with Cameroonian entrepreneurs trained in Italy, the Minister was able to discuss with these project leaders on the support opportunities provided by the State. On their part, the ceremony was also an opportunity for them to present to Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III the challenges they often encounter in their various sectors. As such, the challenges brought forth ranged from agriculture to aesthetics, including architecture and renewable energies amongst others.

Another ceremony on the sponsorship day for innovative start-ups also took place on February 23rd 2022. Accompanied by the representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) who are vital sponsors of projects relative to these young start-up owners, Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III had an exchange with young start-up owners from various domains. In the course of the exchange, the Minister called their attention to the fact that the Promote fair and this sponsorship day are an opportunity to capitalize on especially in relation to exchanges with institutions, technical and financial partners as well as create and benefit from networks with new business partners. It is worth mentioning that besides verbal exchanges with this young innovative start-up owners, Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III later proceeded to visit their innovative stands so as to have a view as well as firsthand knowledge of their innovations.