(Business in Cameroon) – The Director General of the Cameroon National Shippers’ Council (CNCC), Auguste Mbappe Penda, and the Director General of the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations (GUCE), Isidore Biyiha, signed a cooperation agreement on November 5, 2025, in Douala. The partnership aims to accelerate the modernization and digitalization of foreign trade procedures.
The agreement provides for joint efforts in training, outreach, and communication with supply chain operators to support change management and the adoption of paperless systems. It also covers technical assistance and the development of monitoring tools for trade operators.
This partnership builds on the collaboration initiated in 2017 with the rollout of the electronic single form for trade operations (e-Force). The system has strengthened ties between GUCE and CNCC through the exchange of files submitted on the GUCE platform and Electronic Cargo Tracking Notes (BESC) issued by the CNCC.
“More than 2 million files and BESC notes have been exchanged between the two platforms, helping to secure our operations,” Biyiha said.
The agreement represents a new step in Cameroon’s national program to digitalize trade procedures, at a time when GUCE is upgrading its security systems with new authentication measures. The goal is to further simplify trade processes and safeguard public revenues.
To date, GUCE reports more than 35 procedures digitalized, with 8.21 trillion XAF in customs revenues and 98 billion XAF in tax collections between 2012 and 2023.
“The CNCC and GUCE share a common vision: to make Cameroon’s ports, airports, and border crossings more competitive by facilitating trade flows,” Penda emphasized.
By enhancing interoperability between the e-Force and BESC systems, the initiative aims to cut transaction costs, improve traceability, and reduce fraud risks. The key challenge, officials note, will be to maintain robust cybersecurity and user support to ensure that these technical improvements translate into real gains in competitiveness for Cameroon’s trade corridors.
Frédéric Nonos
