The European Union has signed three grant agreements worth more than CFA37 billion to support Cameroon’s digital sector, cocoa industry, and timber value chain. The agreements were signed on June 16, 2026, in Yaoundé by Paul Tasong, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, and Jean-Marc Châtaignier, Head of the European Union Delegation to Cameroon.
The funding is designed to strengthen Cameroon’s economic capabilities in areas considered important for competitiveness, export growth, and sustainable development. The grants will support digital transformation, improve the use of technology among small and medium-sized enterprises, and promote more sustainable practices in cocoa farming and forestry.
The first agreement, worth CFA9.8 billion, will finance the Business Boost for Africa program. The initiative aims to strengthen the digital economy in Cameroon and three other Central African countries: Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo.
A second program, Digital Acceleration in Cameroon, has received a similar allocation. It is expected to help local small and medium-sized enterprises become more competitive by encouraging the adoption of digital technologies and improving their ability to participate in a modern business environment.
The largest share of the EU funding, CFA17.5 billion, will support the Sustainable and Competitive Forests and Cocoa in Cameroon program. This initiative aims to promote environmentally sustainable cocoa production and forestry activities while increasing revenues from two of Cameroon’s major export sectors.
The support comes as Cameroon seeks to strengthen value chains that can create jobs, increase exports, and improve business competitiveness. By investing in digital services, SMEs, cocoa, and timber, the EU-backed programs are expected to contribute to more sustainable economic growth and stronger private sector development.
The grant agreements also reflect continued cooperation between Cameroon and the European Union in areas linked to economic transformation, environmental sustainability, and regional development. Through these programs, Cameroon is expected to advance digital modernization while improving the long-term competitiveness of its cocoa and timber industries.
