On June 29, 2026, the Cameroonian capital buzzed with speeches and stalls dedicated to micro, small and medium enterprises. The 6th edition of MSME Day, organized in Yaoundé, brought together entrepreneurs, public officials and international partners around a common goal: making SMEs the engine of local transformation.
At the heart of the event, the Minister of SMEs, Social Economy and Craftsmanship, Achille Bassilekin III, reiterated the government's priority by launching the theme "From raw material to finished product: MSMEs at the heart of transformation". With these words, he emphasized the need to move from simple resource extraction to a full value chain, where each step creates wealth for the country.
This direction fits within the broader government programme, which aims to strengthen the role of MSMEs in industry. The minister indicated that public policies will now be calibrated to support the creation of factories, the modernisation of workshops and access to more lucrative markets, so that small firms can compete with the sector's major players.
Industrial transformation relies on the ability to convert raw materials such as cocoa or cotton into marketable finished goods. By placing MSMEs at the centre of this process, Cameroon hopes to reduce its dependence on raw material exports and increase the value added generated domestically. The strategy also aims to spur local innovation, encouraging entrepreneurs to develop processes suited to African realities.
Nevertheless, challenges remain numerous. Access to finance is still limited for small firms, as is the availability of cutting‑edge technologies. The government acknowledged these obstacles and pledged to put in place preferential credit mechanisms, as well as technical training programmes, to equip business leaders with the skills needed to thrive in a competitive environment.
If these measures materialise, the benefits for the Cameroonian population could be significant. A strengthened transformation chain would create skilled jobs, promote upskilling of youth and women, and contribute to export diversification. Finished products from a local chain would also offer more stable prices to consumers while bolstering the country's trade balance.
The future of MSMEs is being written today. The minister called on private‑sector actors, financial institutions and development partners to join the movement, stressing that collective success will depend on close cooperation. The next step will be to closely monitor the pilot projects launched during the day, assess their real impact and adjust policies based on the results obtained.
