Under the aegis of Célestin Tawamba, President of the patronage, and Mohamadou Hayatou, Regional Private Sector Lead at the AfDB, the two institutions conducted an uncompromising inventory of existing support tools. The conclusion is unanimous: current mechanisms, although theoretically available, fail to impact the daily operations of local businesses. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schemes were specifically criticized for their misalignment with the actual capacities of domestic investors.

This meeting marks a desire to break away from traditional bureaucratic approaches. GECAM is now advocating for the advent of more inclusive financing models, specifically calibrated for small and medium-sized enterprises which constitute the bedrock of the national economy. For Aline Valérie Mbono, Executive Director of the umbrella organization, aligning intervention methods with performance objectives is imperative to escape the cycle of intentions not followed by actions. It is no longer just about offering lines of credit, but about building an agile financial architecture capable of adapting to the specificities of the Cameroonian market and the competitive requirements of private operators.

The response from the pan-African financial institution was intended to be concrete and operational. The AfDB committed to redefining its roadmap in close synergy with GECAM, emphasizing the strengthening of managerial capacities and the structuring of bankable projects. Technical working sessions were approved to remove the barriers blocking the flow of capital toward the real economy. By agreeing on a results-oriented approach based on measurable outcomes, the two partners are paving the way for a new era of cooperation, where international support finally becomes the engine of sustainable and endogenous growth for the private sector.

CK