The Chairman of the Adhoc Sub-Committee in charge of facilitating the implementation of the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative in Cameroon, Mr. Auguste MBAPPE PENDA, who happens to be the General Manager of the Cameroon National Shippers' Council (CNSC), invited the members of this sub-committee to a meeting held today 10 August 2023 to, among other things, assess the conduct of the first importation operation into Cameroon under AfCFTA.

The purpose was to examine strict compliance of this operation with the provisions and operational instruments of the AfCFTA, and to identify shortcomings that need to be addressed in future operations. The company INODA INDUSTRIES SARL, owner of the shipment of resins which arrived in July via the Port of Kribi, was represented at the meeting by Mr. Kemajou Feuba Blaise, who expressed his satisfaction with this first experience, while deploring the lack of awareness of this trade opportunity amongst sector stakeholders.

Subcommittee members were generally satisfied with the commitment of all parties involved in making this first operation a success. The chairman of the sub-committee instructed that training sessions be organized in the near future for Licensed Customs Brokers and other actors of the import/export operations chain.  He also urged all Sub-Committee members to intensify their focus on exports, in order to support Cameroonian SMEs and promote the "Made in Cameroon" label on a continental scale.

265 Cameroonian companies exporting to other African countries have already been identified by the Sub-Committee with a view to help them benefit from the AfCFTA regime. 5 of them have already been selected for this assistance process, prior to the 2^nd phase of the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative, scheduled for October 2023.