(Business in Cameroon) – During a consultation workshop held on January 29 and 30 in Kribi (South Region), Camvert, along with representatives from the Campo community, adopted three key resolutions to support both the company’s growth and the local population’s development.
One of the key commitments was Camvert’s promise to create a fund specifically for youth self-employment in Campo, as announced by Nouhou Bello, the Prefect of the Ocean Department, who oversaw the discussions. In addition, Camvert pledged to build and equip a vocational training center to provide young people in this southernmost region of Cameroon with opportunities for professional training and job placement.
Another major resolution was the creation of a tripartite consultation platform, which will meet every three months to ensure the follow-up of these commitments. Furthermore, a new Annual Work Plan (PTA) was adopted to serve as a framework for implementing and evaluating projects that will benefit the Campo community. Camvert has committed to carrying out eight projects in 2025 under this PTA.
For Prefect Nouhou Bello, these decisions signal “a new beginning between Camvert and its local partners.” He expressed his appreciation for the involvement of all stakeholders: “I want to congratulate all the participants in the workshop, the surrounding communities represented by the various village chiefs, group leaders, and the elite from across the country who came together to discuss the interests of the Campo district,” he said.
On his side, Mahmoud Mourtada, the General Director of Camvert, shared that the discussions left him “at peace because we were able to speak openly with sincere hearts.” According to him, “All the issues were laid out on the table. We discussed them and found solutions.”
During the workshop, he emphasized that Camvert’s project is built on a strong ambition: to develop a 50,000-hectare plantation, along with palm oil production units, energy infrastructure, and waste management systems. The goal is to generate 8,000 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs.
“To date, we have already developed 7,000 hectares, including 4,000 hectares of plantation, 2,000 hectares of conservation reserves, and 1,000 hectares reserved for the 2025 plantation,” he added.
Since launching its operations in 2020, Camvert has maintained an average of 600 direct jobs, including permanent, temporary, and subcontracted positions.
“This figure, which reflects our growth dynamic, is supported by significant investments: around CFA3 billion in salaries for employees and CFA2 billion to agricultural subcontracting companies. All of these funds are reinvested mainly in Campo to create added value. We have also ensured the payment of over CFA200 million in social security contributions for our workers,” said Mourtada.
However, the company’s CEO noted, “It is important to remind everyone that only in 2024 did part of our plantation start production, and we are currently not making any profits.” Nonetheless, Mourtada assured, “The outlook for 2025 is quite favorable and should pave the way for more community-driven achievements.”
This position was well received by Campo’s community representatives. Many expressed satisfaction with the two days of intensive work, during which all concerns were addressed. They now feel confident in the new direction being taken.
