By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has called on Cameroon to strengthen its capital mobilization efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth. The recommendation was made in Yaoundé during the official launch of the bank’s 2025 Country Report in July 2025, an event that featured extensive discussions on the nation’s economic challenges.
The launch ceremony was attended by key representatives from the Cameroonian government, including officials from the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development; the Ministry of Finance; and the Ministry of Trade, as well as members of the business sector.
Ameth Saloum Ndiaye and Godwill Kan Tange, AfDB senior and country economists for Cameroon, respectively, presented the report’s key findings. They highlighted the report’s actionable proposals for optimizing the use of budgetary resources and the country’s natural, human, and financial capital to stimulate more inclusive and sustainable growth. The presentation also touched on critical issues such as public corporation reform, governance, debt management, industrial development, vocational training, and innovative financing.
“The African Development Bank Group commends the Cameroonian authorities for their commitment to implementing a National Integrated Financing Strategy,” said Mamadou Tangara, Head of Operations, speaking on behalf of the Bank’s Director General for Central Africa. “The report is fully aligned with the government’s priorities.”
Jean Tchoffo, Secretary General of Cameroon’s Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, welcomed the report’s recommendations, noting their alignment with the National Development Strategy 2030 (SND30). “This report comes at a key moment, as we are conducting a mid-term review of our National Development Strategy,” Tchoffo stated. “We are convinced that its recommendations will enrich our thinking and strengthen our efforts to accelerate the structural transformation of our economy.”
Titled “Making Cameroon’s Capital Work Better for its Development,” the report identifies key strategies to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and foster inclusive, resilient growth. It urges the government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to collaborate on the country’s structural transformation.
The report paints a picture of a recovering economy, with estimated growth of 3.6% in 2024, driven mainly by continued infrastructure investment and strong momentum in manufacturing.
Relying on a detailed analysis, the report identifies several areas for progress, including: Strengthening domestic resource mobilization and governance, improving the business climate and digitalization, optimizing the potential of natural capital, reducing tax exemptions, as well as restructuring strategic public corporations, particularly in the energy and refining sectors.
The report also stresses the importance of strengthening transparency and the rule of law through greater accountability and the publication of public corporation financial statements. It further recommends adopting the National Integrated Financing Strategy (SNFI) to diversify funding sources and leverage opportunities in the carbon market.
Other priorities include: consolidating the financial sector, processing commodities locally, developing regional infrastructure, gradually reducing fuel subsidies while prioritizing investment spending and concessional financing, and accelerating development in insecure areas and strengthening budgetary capacity.
The country reports are part of the AfDB’s African Economic Outlook 2025, which provides an annual assessment of the economic performance and outlook for the continent’s 54 countries. The 2025 AEO report was released last May during the Bank Group’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme “Maximizing Africa’s Capital for Sustainable Development.”
