On the occasion of a hearing held on July 16, 2026, in Yaoundé, Minister Achille Bassilekin III reaffirmed, together with the officials of the French Development Agency, the shared commitment to continue support programs for SMEs, crafts, and the social economy, focusing on new financing priorities and local transformation.
The partnership between the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Economy and Crafts (MINPMEESA) and the French Development Agency (AFD) is entering a new phase. Received in a meeting on July 16, the outgoing country director of the AFD in Cameroon, Virginie Dago, came to pay her farewell respects to Minister Achille Bassilekin III, after four years of cooperation. The meeting also allowed for the introduction of her successor, Jérôme Notebaert, whose assumption of duties is scheduled for the end of August.
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The discussions focused on the assessment of jointly conducted projects, notably TRANSFAGRI, SEPTENTRIONES, and SECAL, as well as on collaboration prospects. Both partners intend to strengthen their action in favor of SMEs, cooperatives, artisans, and social economy actors.
Among the priority areas are the development of the wood sector through PAD-Bois, improving access to financing for rural SMEs, modernizing processing equipment, and establishing a joint monitoring and evaluation system to measure the impact of programs on business competitiveness.
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This meeting reflects the determination of the two institutions to maintain sustainable cooperation in support of local transformation, job creation, and strengthening the Cameroonian entrepreneurial fabric.
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