Cameroon has selected an initial group of five companies to become “national champions” as part of the implementation of its National Development Strategy for 2020–2030, according to a midterm evaluation report published by the Ministry of Economy.
The selection forms part of the government’s broader push for structural transformation of the economy. The report said the companies were chosen in consultation with the private sector and target firms with “strong growth potential.”
Among the selected companies is Soyabeans Processing Industry of Cameroon (Soproicam SA), an agribusiness firm specializing in soybean production and processing. Production takes place in northern Cameroon, while processing is carried out at the company’s Yato plant on the outskirts of Douala, the country’s economic capital.
For several years, Soproicam has struggled to supply its processing plant, which has a capacity of 100 tons per day. The main constraint has been the export of a significant share of Cameroon’s soybean output to Nigeria, reducing local supply. To address this, the state granted the company a 2,000-hectare land concession in 2016.
The objective is to enable Soproicam to double soybean output from an estimated 50,000 tons in 2025 to 100,000 tons by 2030. Achieving this target is expected to strengthen local integration and ensure continuity of industrial operations.
Shortage of skilled labor
The government has also selected Société de transformation de bus (Sotrabus), presented as the first bus assembly plant in Cameroon and Central Africa. Based in Douala, the company supplies buses to a significant share of the country’s intercity transport operators, amid rising demand.
However, production scale-up has been constrained by a lack of local skills. “Few people are currently trained in automobile manufacturing. For now, a large part of the workforce is recruited from West Africa,” David Nchenouossi, the company’s administrative director, said in a 2021 interview with Défis Actuels. The issue highlights broader challenges around training and skills transfer in the industrialization process.
Incentives planned
ZNG Smart Cards Factory is also included in the first list of national champions. Founded in 2016 by Cameroonian engineer Arthur Zang, inventor of the Cardiopad medical tablet, the company specializes in the production of magnetic cards and electronic terminals.
Two agribusiness firms complete the group: Société camerounaise de production de riz (SCPR) and Agro-industrial Camerounaise (Agrocam). Agrocam, described as a flagship company of the Noutchogouin Group founded by late businessman Jean Samuel Noutchogouin, focuses on the production of chicks and egg trays.
The report said the selection is based on strict criteria, including industrialization, import substitution, value addition, competitiveness, innovation, and international potential. To turn these companies into drivers of reduced imports and expanded access to international markets, the government plans a range of financial and non-financial support measures, including subsidies, tax exemptions, easier access to financing windows, land facilitation, and technical assistance.
Brice R. Mbodiam
