Cameroon: project starts to protect local production of over 50 national products

50 products that will soon be banned from importation into Cameroon including paints, cosmetics, agri-food products ...

Video source: https://www.africanews.com

Investing in Cameroon - The Ministry of Commerce (Mincommerce) informs that 50 products may soon be suspended imported into Cameroon. Without specifying details or deadlines for the implementation of this measure, the Ministry of Trade nevertheless indicates that no less than 12 sectors are affected, due to the surplus nature of local production.

These areas include:

varnishes,
metallurgy,
cement,
industrial packaging,
cosmetics,
agribusiness,
vegetable oils,
palm oil derivatives and the brewing industry.

" L' exhaustive list below " , says the Ministry.

Last March, this ministerial department seized the Cameroonian inter-working group to draft the " list of products to be banned from imports ". This is in order to protect domestic production and industry. This list is still awaited.

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance announces the introduction of appropriate tax instruments to promote local production and curb 'non-essential' imports. And for good reason, these imports deteriorate the country's balance of payments.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Cameroon imported CFAF 3,405.2 billion in 2018, an increase of 11.5% compared to 2017. This amount represents more than half of Cameroon's 2019 budget (5212 billion FCFA).

Cameroon's imports come from some 189 countries, of which the top ten supply more than half (58.2%). China ranks first with 18.5%. It is followed by France (8.3%); Nigeria (5.6%) and the Netherlands (4.8%).