Cameroon has entered into a new digital trade partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) connect to global e-commerce markets and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
The agreement, formalised through a letter of intent, was signed on Thursday, March 26, 2026, during the WTO 14th Ministerial Conference.
Representing Cameroon was Minister of External Relations Mbella Mbella, while Pamela Coke-Hamilton signed on behalf of the ITC.
This step marks a new phase in a collaboration that has spanned over 25 years across several areas of technical cooperation, according to Business in Cameroon.
Through this agreement, both parties have committed to improving the business environment for Cameroonian SMEs so they can actively participate in digital trade and grow their presence in online markets.
The initiative also includes training and advisory support for policymakers, encouraging knowledge exchange and helping to review and develop policies and regulations that support innovation, competitiveness, and inclusion in the digital economy.
Officials say the partnership aligns with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy, NDS30, and is designed to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in both traditional and digital trade sectors.
Agriculture remains a key focus, particularly cocoa and cassava. Cassava is a widely consumed staple in Cameroon and also serves industrial purposes such as animal feed and starch production.
Cocoa, on the other hand, is one of the country’s leading export products, placing Cameroon fourth globally and third in Africa behind Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
The high quality of Cameroonian cocoa beans allows producers to earn premium prices in international markets, making the sector a major contributor to export earnings.
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Beyond agriculture, the partnership will expand into broader trade and digital transformation efforts. ITC will provide support in areas such as market analysis, export training, business advisory services, trade information systems, and supply chain development.
Policymakers will also benefit from targeted training and advisory services to strengthen regulatory frameworks and encourage innovation within the digital economy.
Pamela Coke-Hamilton highlighted Cameroon’s strong agricultural potential and reaffirmed ITC’s commitment to helping local businesses access global markets.
The ITC, a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, works to improve the trade capabilities of developing countries by helping businesses integrate into international value chains.
This new agreement builds on more than two decades of cooperation and signals a deeper shift toward digital commerce.
Key priorities include increasing SME participation in e-commerce, improving digital trade policies, and encouraging institutional knowledge sharing. A joint programme of work is expected to follow, outlining specific projects to be carried out under the agreement.
The signing also coincided with discussions at a WTO side event focused on how e-commerce can support rural development. Stakeholders explored how digital trade rules and investment facilitation can boost agricultural processing, expand trade, and improve investment conditions in developing economies.
As part of this renewed collaboration, the ITC and the Cameroonian government co-hosted a side event at MC14 on e-commerce for rural development.
The session examined how WTO frameworks can support agro-processing and food industries. Participants included Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, and Tunisia’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, Samir Abid.
Discussions also covered the WTO Agreement on Electronic Commerce and the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement as tools to improve the investment climate in developing countries.
Through its ongoing work, the ITC continues to support enterprises in developing and transition economies, helping them strengthen their trade capacity and contribute meaningfully to national development.
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Image Credit: International Trade Centre
