Investing in Cameroon

H.E. Paul BIYA President of the Republic of Cameroon “…Since 2009, the Cameroon Business Forum has effectively been a government venue for dialogue between the public and private sectors. It is an appropriate frame - work for identifying and monitoring the implementation of reforms aimed at continuously improving the business environment. The reforms undertaken within this context have eased the creation of enterprises, settlement of invoices, tax exemptions, implementa - tion of business contracts, promotion and protection of investments, and the develop - ment of cross-border trade…” Extract from the Head of State’s speech in Turkey, March 2013. Philemon YANG Prime Minister, Head of Government • •• •• • • • • •• • •• INSTITUTIONS INDUSTRIA L ZONES SN BRUSSELS MANAGEMENT AND PRESIDENCY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY B. P2374- Yaoundé OF THE REPUBLIC Phone : (+237) 22 22 87 37 P.o.box : 1431- Yaoundé Fax : (+237) 22 22 87 32 Phone : (+237) 22 23 40 25 Phone : (+237) 22 22 19 42 (+237) 22 20 04 55 Fax : (+237) 22 22 19 42 SWISS INTERN ATIONAL Fax : (+237) 22 22 08 70 AIRLINES (+237) 22 21 26 38 NATIONA LINDUSTRIAL Phone : (+237) 22 22 97 37 FREE ZONE BOARD : PRIME MINISTRE’S OFFICE : Fax : (+237) 22 22 63 29 P.o.box : 925-Douala Phone : (+237) 22 23 58 02 HOTELS Phone : (+237) 33 43 33 43 (+237) 22 23 80 99 Fax : (+237) 33 43 33 17 Fax : (+237) 22 23 57 24 HI LTON YAOUNDE ONE - STOP - SHO P FOR MINISTE RY OF AGRICU LTURE P.o.bo x:11852-Yaoundé FOREIGN TRADE : AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Phone : (+237) 22 23 36 46 Fax : (+237) 22 22 32 10 Phone : (+237) 22 23 11 90 P.o.box : 12679 - Douala Fax : (+237)22 22 50 91 Phone : (+237) 33 41 02 43 LE MONT FEBE (+237) 33 41 44 45 MINISTE RY OF TRAD E : Fax : (+237) 33 43 60 78 Phone : (+237) 22 21 40 02 Fax : (+237) 22 21 60 70 Phone : (+237) 22 23 02 16 CIVIL AVI ATION AUTHORIT Y : Fax : (+237) 22 23 90 29 DJEUGA PALACE : P.o.box : 6998- Yaoundé GI CA M Phone : (+237) 22 30 66 26 Phone : (+237) 22 22 46 46 Fax : (+237) 22 30 33 62 (+237) 22 22 64 57 P.o.box : 1134 Yaound é Fax : (+237) 22 22 47 00 Phone : (+237) 33 42 31 41 NATIONA L PORT AUTHORIT Y : (+237) 22 22 64 26 Fax : (+237) 33 43 38 80 P.o.box : 11538 -Yaoundé LE MERIDIEN SYNDUSTRICAM Phone : (+237) 22 21 06 37 Phone : (+237) 33 43 50 00 Fax : (+237) 22 21 06 30 Fax : (+237) 33 43 35 07 Phone : (+237) 33 42 30 58 Fax : (+237) 33 42 56 16 DOUAL A PORT AUTHORITY SAWA : P.o.bo x:2345-Douala CONSULAR CHAMBERS P.o.box : 4020 Douala Phone : (+237) 33 42 08 66 Phone : (+237) 33 42 01 33 Fax : (+237) 33 42 38 71 CHAMBER OF COMM ERC E (+237) 33 42 73 22 AND INDU ST RY Fax : (+237) 33 42 67 97 SECURITY Phone : (+237) 33 42 67 87 AIRLINES Yaoundé Fax : (+237) 33 42 55 96 Emergency police 17 CAMAIRCO Fire brigade 18 CAMEROON CHAMB ER OF Gendarmerie 13 AGRICU LTURE, LIVESTOCK P.o.box : 1186- Yaoundé Hôpital Central 22 23 40 20 AND FOREST RY Phone : (+237) 22 23 40 01 Hôpital Général 22 20 11 22 (+237) 22 23 38 08 Hôpital Jamot 22 20 43 90 Phone : (+237) 22 22 23 28 Fax : (+237) 22 28 39 74 22 21 52 26 (+237) 22 23 28 44 (+237) 22 23 03 04 Douala PUBLIC AND PARABUPLIC AIR FRANCE Emergency police 17 BODIES Fire brigade 18 Phone : (+237) 33 42 15 55 Gendarmerie 13 NATIONA LINVESTMENT (+237) 33 42 80 20 Airpor t 33 42 49 49 COORPOR ATION (+237) 33 42 21 26 Hôpital Général 33 37 01 44 Fax : (+237) 33 42 99 52 Hôpital new-bell 33 42 97 80 P.o.box : 423 Yaoundé Phone : (+237) 22 22 44 22 KENYA AI RWAYS Fax : (+237) 22 23 13 32 Phone : (+237) 33 42 96 91 Fax : (+237) 33 42 00 09 Ministry of Econom y, Planning and Regional Development Edited in Yaounde ® MINEPAT July 2013 P.O.box : 660 Yaoundé Phone.: (237) 22 23 36 37 / (237) 22 22 09 22 Fax : (237) 22 22 15 09 Web site : http//www.minepat.gov.cm Foreword his document is operators who wish to meant for all project settle in the country. Tpromoters : notably Dynamic and hardworking entrepreneurs, potential people welcome you in the investors, company heart of Central Africa. buyers, in short for all Whether French, English, those who intend to do Chinese, Japanese, Ameri - business in Cameroon. can , African, Korean,… The purpose of the docu - any investor who intends ment is to inform them on to do business in support facilities available Cameroon will be welcome for entrepreneurs as well in a friendly manner as on administrative and and will benefit from multi - private structures which faceted incentives and may help them in the facilities. The World Bank, realisation of their project. the IMF and the AfDB It is meant for all promoters made this statement Emmanuel NGANOU DJOUMESSI (*) (nationals and foreigners) following the assessment because seeking informa - mission they conducted in tion has hardly been an Cameroon from 2 to 16 easy task. The document May 2012 : “Cameroon’s provides trustworthy infor - economic recovery continued mation drawn from reliable after the global crisis of and credible sources on 2008 - 2009, with a growth a country which has a rate estimated at 5% strategic position in the in 2013 and inflation Gulf of Guinea, with a large contained to less than opening into the Atlantic 3%. Economic prospects Ocean, in Kribi, where a remain favourable and giant industrial and port growth is expected to complex is being con - reach 5.2% in 2013,” structed. Cameroon offers enticing investment oppor - *Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development tunities for economic Contents CAMEROON’S ECONOMY 10 WHY INVEST IN CAMEROON ? 13 BUSINESS CLIMATE 15 MAIN SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY 19 CAMEROON IN BRIEF 35 CAMEROON’S ECONOMY Cameroon has a strategic position in the Gulf of Guinea. The country is also referred to as Africa in miniature owing to its remarkably contrasting relief, made up of high and low lands ; its varied vegetation made up of forest, savana and steppe ; its tropical climate which is a combination of all the inter-tropical climates of the continent ; and a basically young and dynamic population. WHY INVEST IN CAMEROON ? ride of her diversity, rich in the way towards the building of a potentials, envied for the social strong, united, inclusive nation, Ppeace and stability of her friendly to investments. institutions, Cameroon, in many respects stands as a paradise for any In terms of natural and human investor who intends to multiply his resources : - Cameroon has huge benefits. Let us have a look at a few hydraulic resources (the 2nd largest in aspects of this genuine Promised Africa after the DRC) ; Land. - Cameroon has about 52 types of identified minerals. As illustration, At the geo-strategic level : Located Cameroon has one of the world in the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon has largest deposits of cobalt, nickel, a key position which makes the manganese, bauxite, iron ore, country the entry and exit gate to the uranium, etc. sub-region. Indeed, Cameroon is the only country in the sub-region which At the human and natural levels : shares borders with all the other Cameroon is also referred to as “Africa five countries of the Central African in miniature” for her geographical Economic and Monetary Community diversity; her vegetation, climate and (CEMAC). Cameroon is bounded soil are conducive to agriculture. on the South by Congo, Gabon, According to census data, Equatorial Guinea, on the North by Cameroon’s population is 19,406,100 Chad and on the East by the Central inhabitants (2010) with 64 per cent African Republic. Besides CEMAC aged under 25. An educated youth, countries, Cameroon also shares a well trained and hardworking, which is 1700km-long border with Nigeria. This synonymous to an available and peculiarity, coupled with her economic skilled labour force. performances (50 per cent of CEMAC GDP) makes of the country the leader At the touristic level : Cameroon has of the sub-region. more than 350 km of coasts. With her wildlife and flora Cameroon has one of At the institutional and political the most attractive ecosystems. With levels : Cameroon has strong and close to 300 identified tourist sites, reliable institutions which guarantee Cameroon is potentially a dream social peace and political stability, destination. So why invest in contrasting with the constant up - Cameroon ? Well, simply because heavals and conflicts observed here natural conditions and the political will and there in Africa. Yet, nothing are combined to make the country has come easily : so much ground an ideal destination for all types of covered, so many hurdles cleared on investments. Investing in Cameroun 13 BUSINESS CLIMATE ncentives to facilitate business therefore contributed towards the creation reduction of time and costs of transac - ICameroon has identified a series of tions at the Port Authority of Douala. measures in order to improve its attrac - Another significant reform is the intro - tiveness. Some of these measures duction of the container scanner into have already been implemented while the Port Authority of Douala which has others have been scheduled in the as objective to considerably reduce medium term. physical visits of goods and the time spent in port. In order to alleviate “fiscal Entry into Cameroon pressure” and streamline procedures Any foreign national who is willing to for the purpose of improving the set up a business in Cameroon either business climate, Cameroon has iden - as a self-employed professional or a tified and implemented the following tax promoter of activities in the industry, and administrative policy measures : agriculture, pastoral, trade, handicraft or arts sector should get an entry visa Tax policy measures corresponding to the period of the Other measures in report : intended stay.

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