(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon launched the 7th edition of the International Week for Entrepreneurship in Yaounde on 18 November 2025, highlighting the new subcontracting law that mandates large companies to allocate at least 40% of their contract value to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The week-long event, which runs until 21 November, aims to promote productive entrepreneurship through workshops, exhibitions, and educational initiatives across the country. It is on the theme, “Productive Entrepreneurship and Opportunities under the Subcontracting Law”.
The Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, presided over the launch and outlined the law’s provisions. Promulgated on 15 July 2025, the legislation mandates that large firms subcontract at least 40% of their contract value exclusively to Cameroonian SMEs. The measure is intended to expand access to high-value sectors such as energy, mining, and infrastructure, which multinational corporations have traditionally dominated.
The law also introduces financial safeguards for SMEs, including a 30% advance on approved invoices before work begins and a maximum payment period of 60 working days. These provisions aim to improve liquidity and reduce operational risk for subcontractors.
According to MINPMEESA’s 2024 statistical yearbook, Cameroon registered 444,302 enterprises, of which 443,524 are SMEs. In 2024 alone, 21,132 new SMEs were created through formalisation centres. The minister stated that these figures could increase further with the full implementation of the subcontracting law.
“We are focusing on the subcontracting law because, for a long time, SMEs lacked legal protection and struggled to assert themselves against larger firms. Some even closed after subcontracting, which was not the intended outcome. We are committed to shedding full light on the opportunities the new law offers in terms of legal security, supporting SME growth, and creating a space for dialogue so that all stakeholders, including development partners, can explore solutions to implement this measure effectively in Cameroon,” Minister Bassilekin said.
To support awareness and implementation, the Entrepreneurship Week programme includes the creation of 70 new entrepreneurship clubs in secondary schools, sensitisation workshops on the law, and enterprise visits across all ten regions. A dedicated Women Entrepreneurs Day is scheduled for 19 and 20 November, with the closing ceremony set for 21 November in Yaounde.
Mercy Fosoh
