Four local authorities (Lomié, Edéa, Sangmélima and Meyomessi) will host the first SMEs Wood’s Parks as part of the Wood Sector Development Support Program (PAD-BOIS). Led by MINPMEESA, the project aims to develop local wood processing, support SMEs and social economy organizations, while generating thousands of jobs and strengthening the competitiveness of the sector.
Cameroon wants to accelerate the transformation of its wood sector by prioritizing local processing rather than the export of logs. Through PAD-BOIS, the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts is launching the SMEs Wood’s Parks, industrial platforms designed to structure a real production ecosystem.
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The first sites will be located in Lomié, Edéa, Sangmélima and Meyomessi. These parks will offer shared workshops, industrial equipment, incubation centers, coworking spaces, a one-stop shop for formalization, an energy production unit, as well as technical and financial support for SMEs, artisanal production units and social economy organizations.
The objective is to promote the local manufacture of furniture, joinery, panels and other high value-added products, in order to reduce imports of wood derivatives and improve the competitiveness of Cameroonian companies.
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Beyond its industrial component, the initiative aims to stimulate territorial development, create jobs for young people and women, and promote sustainable management of forest resources. With the SMEs Wood’s Parks, Cameroon is demonstrating its ambition to make wood processing a lever for wealth creation and diversification of its economy.
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