Women Entrepreneurs Gather in Douala to Explore AfCFTA Market Opportunities

Nearly 300 women entrepreneurs from across Cameroon gathered in Douala on May 29-30 for the fifth edition of the Women Entrepreneurs Exchange and Networking Forum, an initiative organised by the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (MINPMEESA) to strengthen women-led businesses and position them for opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event comes as women-owned businesses account for an increasing share of Cameroon’s entrepreneurial landscape. According to MINPMEESA’s 2024 statistical directory, women owned 167,652 of the country’s 443,524 registered SMEs, representing 37.8% of the national SME stock. The figure compares with 148,620 women-owned enterprises in 2023, an increase of 19,032 businesses in one year.

The ministry’s data also show that women hold around 43% of leadership positions in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Over the same period, the broader SME sector expanded by 12.8%, with 77% of enterprises concentrated in the tertiary sector, including trade and services, highlighting the importance of strengthening access to regional and international markets.

Held at the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Handicrafts (CCIMA), the two-day forum focused on expanding women’s participation in international trade in services and the cultural and creative industries.

Participants attended training, information-sharing and business networking sessions organised under the theme: “Promoting women entrepreneurs’ activities in the cultural and creative industries and strengthening their presence in international trade in services and in the AfCFTA.”

According to MINPMEESA, discussions centred on opportunities in transport, tourism, information and communication technology, financial services and business services, sectors identified as strategic growth drivers within continental trade integration.

The event also featured fashion displays, cultural demonstrations, a gastronomy fair and an exhibition platform aimed at connecting entrepreneurs with potential markets and business partners.

Officials said the initiative is  part of Cameroon’s broader effort to prepare SMEs for opportunities created by the AfCFTA through stronger productive value chains and improved business competitiveness.

Organisers said particular emphasis was placed on creative industries such as fashion, textiles, handicrafts, film production, gastronomy and digital content creation, sectors considered to offer scalable export potential.

The forum also highlighted access-to-finance initiatives supporting women-led enterprises, including banking and development finance programmes aimed at easing capital constraints for female entrepreneurs seeking regional expansion.

Mercy Fosoh