Cameroon: Statistics In 2012

I have recently read a great brochure on investment in Cameroon 2012  by Jeune Afrique, and I wanted to share the findings with you. Here they are.

Economic powerhouse of Francophone Central Africa, and accounting for half of its population, Cameroon is strategically positioned with its Atlantic coast, its borders with six major countries and its natural situation on the borders of  Western Africa and Southern Africa.
Vast country, stretching from the Atlantic coast, not far from the equator to the heart of the African continent, towards Lake Chad. It offers a wide variety of landscapes and climates, many forests, mineral resources in quantity (52 minerals) and 7.2 million hectares of arable land (10% of total 54 African countries).

Determined to attract foreign investors, Cameroon offers a political and economic stability, many natural and human resources, and a great development ambition.
Here are sector by sector the key statistics of Cameroon:

• A robust and mature economy

In steady growth (4.5% in 2012), Cameroon's economy has sound fundamentals. The country is not in debt (less than 4% of GDP), exports and imports are growing steadily, the trade balance is in surplus (0.8% of GDP) and inflation is contained (2%).

• A large market

With 19.4 million inhabitants, 52% in urban areas, Cameroon is one of the first sub-Saharan African markets and the first in Francophone Central Africa. Distribution, transportation and, more generally, services are promised a great development.

• A well-trained and  bilingual youth

Cameroon has 80 colleges, which graduate nearly 4,000 students per year. 48% of Cameroonians are under 15 years in a country that has one of the highest enrollment in the region (over 50%). French and English are both official languages.

• A solid network of business

The country has more than 90,000 companies with fifty large companies (revenue of 20 million dollars to over a billion dollars), and 86% of SMEs. They have a favorable institutional environment for their expansion (coaching, access to credit and government procurement, etc..).

• A favorable business environment

The Cameroonian civil and commercial codes are similar to the French codes (also harmonized with those of all French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa). Many organizations facilitate investments: stop, simplified procedures (delay of starting a business was reduced to three days) ... Taxation is also suitable for business facilitation and trade, particularly with neighboring countries.

•  Investment

Many sectors are available for investment:

In services
The service sector represents 51% of GDP and 85% of companies. The ambitions of the economic development of Cameroon promise a strong development, especially in distribution and trade, transportation and tourism.

In manufacturing and mining
Manufacturing and mining represent the secondary sector and account for 22% of GDP, and it is changing rapidly. Very dynamic, BTP achieved annual growth of 12.5%. Gas and its transformation, and the exploration and mining industry offer many opportunities.

In Agriculture
Large producer of cocoa, wood, rubber, banana, coffee, tea and cotton, Cameroon accounts for 27% of its GDP through the primary sector, which has several strengths. Three quarters of the arable lands are available for new crops and food industries are in short supply.

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Doing Business In Cameroon

Entrepreneurs wishing to do business in Cameroon must follow a number of steps before the actual opening of the doors of their company. Presently Cameroon has an economy based on oil and agricultural resources, and with the advent of globalization and modernization, Cameroon is very poorly represented in areas such as world trade, new technologies, online business etc.. To create a successful business in Cameroon, one must have sufficient knowledge of the economic and financial status of the country, as well as the various markets available locally because it is necessary to clearly identify the population's needs and pains, and then make a business plan to meet and fulfill those needs.

Entrepreneurship
It is obvious that the process for opening a business in Cameroon depends largely on the type of company we want to open, because the process for someone who wants to open a clothing shop, will not be the same as someone who wants to open a bank for example. But in general, the process of starting a business in Cameroon is long, tedious, and time consuming. It is also one of the reasons why the private sector is very underdeveloped. People wants to go out and start businesses, but the complicated legislation around business creation and those long processes are not encouraging. Although there are formal and published deadlines, the execution part of those deadlines are never respected.
The procedure can take 45 days and beyond, and this is simply too long. To better understand the extent of this delay, let compare it with the one in another African country like the Seychelles. There it takes 24 hours, no more, to create a business. The complexity of this procedure in Cameroon is that it is distributed. In fact it affects several jurisdictions that have different guardianships and contribute to prolong the delay.

Regarding the procedure itself, it depends on the legal structure adopted. The Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) adopted in April 1997, a series of texts constituting the foundation for a modernized economic and common law to the countries of the Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). Among the documents signed, we have the Uniform Act on the right of Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Grouping, which enables the liberalization of economic activity, with strong legal guarantees.
In addition to acts of OHADA, the companies in Cameroon are also governed by the Civil Code and Law No. 90/031 of 10 August 1990 governing commercial activity in Cameroon. These texts thus permit the entrepreneurs to choose from various types of companies the one that suits the best the activity they want to start.
It was thus:

• The General Partnership (SNC: Société en Nom Collectif)
• Limited Partnership (SCS: Société en Commandite Simple)
• The Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Société Anonyme (SA)
• The Economic Interest Group (EIG)

For more information about each of these types of companies, visit the OHADA tests or read this very interesting article on setting up a business in Cameroon.

Discussions
The difficulties here may be encountered at several levels:

•     Procedure

As we said above, it is expensive, and very dispersed. Thus you really need to know where you are going and what you really want to do because it requires a lot of eagerness, desire and patience. Organizations such as the CFE (Centre Camerounais de Formalités des Entreprises) may also be a great help; Established in 1994, CFE is a private organization supporting the creation and development of companies in Cameroon. It assists project sponsors and sponsors and mentors young companies in all phases of their corporate life.

•     Implementation, Business Culture

Many people remain skeptical about the future of business in Cameroon and are reluctant to invest. It is clear that as in any market, there are always risks of failure, but this should not take precedence over your desire to contribute to the enhancement of the image of Cameroon's economy and your need to create a company that will change the lives of many people. Of course we need to deepen our market study and pick some promising sectors of the market. Then we need to associate global business best practices with the business culture "Made in Cameroon."

Like the whole Africa, there are many opportunities in Cameroon, because they needs are unresolved or resolved in half. And to compete with the world, we need to take more action. It is time for us to wake up as an African, and strive for a sustainable development of our dear and beautiful continent.

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Cameroon's Economic Situation

Cameroon is a "rich" country, since it has many natural resources, namely in agriculture, forestry, mining and many oil companies. According to Wikipedia, its GDP is half of the one of the whole Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), which gives it an important place at the regional level. But the Cameroonian people experience great frustration with their economic and social difficulties. With an unemployment rate that continues to grow, a private sector that is almost non-existent and some states that try somehow to limit the damage by recruiting fresh graduates in the public sector, in short there are very few offers for a huge number of job seekers.

This should in fact be seen as a challenge, and as an open door, that motivates Cameroonians and the whole African community to continue to fight for a better exploitation of our resources and a call for investors and entrepreneurs, nationals or foreigners, to boost and reshape the way business is done in Cameroon. In this article, we present the business climate in Cameroon, and ends with a discussion on prolific sectors.

Cameroon's Economic Situation
As a relatively rich country, Cameroon recorded since 1987, major drops in his economic activities and a serious financial crisis that forced the authorities to heavily cut jobs in public services, to compress investment in the country and to suspend the payment of the debt. Despite government efforts with the intervention of World Bank Group, with the resumption of recruitment programs, workshops and discussion forums consistent with the initiatives undertaken by the Government to promote and encourage business environment, but the results do not follow yet. With a growing population and an increasing number of unemployed graduates with, it is therefore essential to find solutions to:

• Strengthening the institutional framework for improved economic management and service delivery. 
• Support for private sector development to diversify the economy and accelerate growth.
• Improving the investment’s climate, in addition to building support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the continuation of direct investment transactions with the local private sector.
• The investment not only in the exploitation of natural resources, but also in sectors such as ICT where countries like China and India managed to dominate the world and boost their economies.

These are just a few examples of things that can be done, and changed in the way business is done in our dear country. And to continue this momentum, the culture of entrepreneurial spirit is also very important. Because in big countries like the United States and Germany, economic growth and unemployment reduction are driven by small and medium businesses. So as young generation, we must not only look for work, but also learn to make a difference by creating a business and change people lives by giving them jobs and financial security. That's how it works and has always worked.

Some prolific sectors
For those who want to start a business but are short of ideas; many possibilities are opened for you. They depend heavily on your industry or market or niche and your individual aspirations and determination. Then one can either:

•     Exploit an existing market

     It is clear that the majority of jobs created in Cameroon are in farming, oil, food, manufacture; and so by choosing one of these areas, you take less risk because many others are already there and they have laid the foundation so that you can easily master all the process of creating monitoring a project in these sectors. An example here is the food sector: opening a restaurant, a McDonald's, a supermarket ect. A disadvantage here is that competition is great and to keep your customers, you should compete in prices or in service.

• Doing in innovation

Here there is more risk but less competition. In fact, innovation is more difficult and requires more critical analysis. Here you must create your own market by educating the public about the benefits of the service you are offering. A good example here is the new technologies, although the population and business are giving increasingly more important to computers and new technology, it is always difficult to convince a CEO to shift from the old school papered business management to an computerize the management system, or creating a website and take advantage of internet marketing to boost sales and popularity. But once past this lock and if you have managed to acquire a certain reputation for the quality of your services or products, and with the fact that there is less competition you will lead the market and make much more profit.
Many companies are investing in computer maintenance and selling computer and other hardware equipments. For the moment, they have enough success against companies developing software products (Software).

But since I am a computer engineer and advocates for innovation, and education of African about the goods and benefits of new technologies, my advice for you is to start an IT business, so that in future we may be like India or China.

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Cameroonian Music Scene

Cameroon is located in Central Africa, in the Gulf of Guinea. It has several large cities including Yaounde, the country's political capital and Douala, the economic capital. Its cultural and ethnic diversity (over 240 ethnic groups, with 240 different languages) made Cameroon a nest of talent, not only in sports but also in music. In this article we will take a near look at the Cameroonian music in the country and in diaspora.



Cameroonian Music
The Best known music of Cameroon is Makossa, for the most part, it is popularized in France by some major musical figures like Manu Dibango, Richard Bona and Etienne Mbappe. But our beautiful country has many other natural rhythms, some of which still belong to the traditional single register. Rhythms such as the "bikoutsi", the "Bend skin", the "Manga Mbeu", the “Essewe", "Ku Nga" and other like the "Assiko” rhythms are all joining gradually playlist in night clubs and wedding parties! In Cameroon, we do not learn to sing or dance, it’s a gift, something that we are born with and it is simply in our bones and blood. Sometimes we do not even need a guitar or a piano or any other modern music instrument; we make music with whatever we have on hand, and the result is simply extraordinary. That's the originality of Cameroonian music, made of those strange musical instruments that are only found in Africa, and Cameroon.

Cameroonian Rhythm’s originality
Far from the global trends of pop, rock and disco, it is in cultural diversity that the Cameroonian music finds its originality. In fact, each region and each ethnic group in the country has its own rhythms that are inspired by its life experience, tradition and ancestral practices. But only some manage to attract record labels and to be promoted in radio stations and nightclubs. Among the most popular rhythms we have:

• Makossa: Being the most liked Cameroon music style; it is popularized by various diaspora Cameroonian artists in France, Switzerland and United States. It is based on the traditional dances of the people of Douala, namely the “Esewe” and the “Kossa”, with significant influences from jazz, zouk, “ambass bay”, Latino music, and rumba. Artists such as Eboa Lotin, Misse Ngoh, Richard Bona and especially Manu Dibango are major figures in the history of makossa. With the new generations, we see artists like Petit Pays, Samy Diko, Longue Longue, Sergeo Polo, Narcisse Prize and many others be on top of the charts. 
• Bitkussi: This dance and music is from the Center and South provinces of Cameroon. It is a traditional dance of the Beti ethnic group. The word bikutsi means in Ewondo “beat of the ground” which is materialized by beating the ground with the soles of the feet. One of the emblematic figures of bikutsi in the country and abroad is indeed K-Tino. We also have monuments like Anne Marie Nzie, the band “Les têtes brulées”, Chantal Ayissi, Ai-Jo Mamadou, Lady Ponce, Bisso Solo and many others. 
• Assiko: Originally a traditional dance performed in healing sessions, the Assiko has evolved over time into a party dance in itself. Less famous than the first two, this dance is mostly found, in Bassas and Betis regions. The dancers move in small steps swaying sensually. The music is played using guitars and traditional drums. Jean Aladin Bikoko is one of the icons of this musical style, he managed to make a career with Assiko and to bring and perform the music in more commercial arena like discos and nightclubs. Other assiko artists are quite well known: LIMAL Joseph, Mongo Mbea Paul Balomog Samson chaud gars, Kilama Kol Mbogol and Nlella. 
• Manga Mbeu Bend and skin: It's a musical style of the western region, especially the Bangangte people. It has been popularized by artists like Pierre Diddy Tchakounte, Andre Marie Talla and the group Kouchouam Mbada.

Diaspora Artists
4million. This is the official number published by the Cameroonian authorities to estimate the number of Cameroonians distributed around the world including talent and Cameroonian music ambassadors. We will present here a few that have enhanced the International image of Cameroon through music.

• Manu Dibango: With over 22 albums to his credit, numerous compilations and unreleased Duo, Manu Dibango is now considered the greatest African saxophonist in business, and the godfather of all African musicians. His latest album titled “Joue Sidney Bechet” (2007) honors the work of the saxophonist and clarinetist Sidney Bechet from New Orleans. 

• Etienne Mbappe: Born in Douala, Cameroon, he enrolled at the conservatory-Chevilly Larue to study classical guitar and then classical bass. Since 2000 Étienne Mbappé plays with Joe Zawinul and is a full member of the "Zawinul Syndicate. He also performed in many concerts with Louis Winsberg. In 2001, he recorded on the latest album of Ray Charles. With two solo albums under his belt, he still well represents his country Cameroon.  saxophonist and clarinetist Sidney Bechet from New Orleans.
  
  
  • Yannick Noah: Yannick Noah was born in Sedan in France May 18, 1960, from a Cameroonian father, Zacharie, and a French mother, Marie-Claire. He discovered Cameroon in 1963 when his father, professional footballer, was seriously wounded and decided to return to his country. Famous tennis player, man with a big heart, Yannick Noah is the only athlete ever to successfully make a conversion to a musical career. First doubted and finger pointed he was able to make the right choice and gradually conquer a place in French music. With 9 albums to his credit, he is regularly in Cameroon and multiplies shows and concerts.
   
• Richard Bona: First recognized on the international music scene as a fantastic bass player, he also leads since 1999 his career as a solo artist with six albums under his belt. Richard Bona was born in 1967 in Minta, Cameroon, in a family of musicians. He emigrated to Germany at age 22, then moved to France to pursue music studies. He played regularly in jazz clubs and performed alongside Jacques Higelin, Didier Lockwood, Manu Dibango, Salif Keita, Francis Lassus etc..
  
  
• Wess Madiko: Better known as Wes, is a singer and musician from Cameroon, born January 15, 1964 at Motaba. In 1992, he went to the U.S. for the release of his album Roots. He gave many concerts in Atlanta on this tour. Shortly after, he found success with the album Welenga (en), composed by Michel Sanchez, founder of Deep Forest. In 1997, his title Alane (in), resulting from Welenga, became a summer hit. The following year, his song In Youpendi is used in the movie The King Lion 2: The Honor of the Tribe

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