The American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon (AmCham) is stepping up efforts to boost trade between Cameroon and other African countries. On Dec. 18 in Douala, the business group hosted a luncheon to highlight opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative aims to help companies turn the regional trade framework into concrete market opportunities and commercial contracts.
“Our role is to provide members with practical information that enables them to grow their businesses and improve profitability. AfCFTA is a major opportunity that offers tangible solutions for our companies,” said Laure Djoukam, president of AmCham Cameroon.
Djoukam said market liberalisation delivers results only when supported by a clear implementation strategy capable of leading to signed contracts and effective market access. Against this backdrop, AmCham is turning to Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a digital ecosystem designed for African private-sector operators and positioned as a one-stop entry point to intra-African trade services.
Launched in 2023 by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Africa Trade Gateway provides detailed, country-specific information on trade regulations across the continent. The platform is intended to simplify administrative procedures and help businesses comply with regulatory requirements in different markets.
According to ATG consultant Christophe Adnot, the ecosystem, which includes platforms such as Mansa, Papps, Tradar Club, Atex and ATG Connect, enables companies to expand commercial activity, secure financial transactions and build networks with financiers and service providers.
ATG links businesses with financial institutions offering tailored financing solutions, including trade finance, credit lines and guarantees, with the aim of easing access to funding needed for regional expansion.
The platform also offers tools to streamline import and export operations, notably through document generation and shipment tracking, helping companies cut delays and reduce cross-border trade costs.
In addition, ATG provides market intelligence, sectoral analyses and country profiles to help firms identify the most promising opportunities. Djoukam said the platform offers a path for Cameroonian companies that fear being crowded out by market opening to restructure, remain competitive and take advantage of AfCFTA opportunities. AmCham said it will organise training sessions with AfCFTA and its partners to help local firms sharpen their strategies.
Since 2022, several Cameroonian companies have traded under AfCFTA rules. These include GIC Afatex, which exports safous, dried pineapples and ginger to Ghana; Cameroon Tea Estate and Ndawara Tea Estate, which export tea to Ghana; Inoda Industries Sarl, which exports resin; and the Cameroon Aluminum Company (Alucam), which ships aluminium ingots to Algeria.
At the same time, the government is training local small and medium-sized enterprises to take advantage of AfCFTA, with a focus on agribusiness, information and communication technologies, and renewable energy.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), trade between Cameroon and other African countries stood at 943.5 billion CFA francs in 2023, down from 1,040 billion CFA francs in 2022, resulting in a trade deficit of 97.2 billion CFA francs. The deficit narrowed by 62.3% year on year.
Despite the improvement, the statistics office said intra-African trade remains limited more than two years after AfCFTA came into force. In 2023, Africa accounted for just 12.7% of Cameroon’s exports and 9.5% of its imports, even though the agreement opens access to a continental market of 1.3 billion consumers.
By promoting the use of Africa Trade Gateway, AmCham aims to encourage Cameroonian companies to expand exports and strengthen cross-border trade.
Frédéric Nonos
