Cameroon Courts London Investors to Bridge NDS30 Funding Gap

Cameroon has approached investors and financial institutions in London for new sources of long-term capital to finance projects under its National Development Strategy, NDS30. The government presented opportunities in energy, transport infrastructure, mining, agro-industry, manufacturing, digital connectivity, water and urban development during meetings held on September 9 and 10, 2026.

The outreach was organized with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, CWEIC, which connects more than 140 business and government partners across 35 countries and territories.

According to the Ministry of Finance, discussions focused on mobilizing financing at sustainable costs through guarantees, blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms that combine public or development funding with private capital while distributing investment risks.

The government estimates that implementing the NDS30 will require about CFAF 88,000 billion. Development partners and the private sector are expected to provide a substantial share of the financing, increasing the need to mobilize capital beyond traditional public borrowing.

The London meetings come as Cameroon seeks to diversify the way it finances development projects while keeping debt at sustainable levels. Figures presented by the government put nominal gross domestic product at CFAF 34,474 billion in 2025, with real economic growth of 3.5%. Non-oil activities accounted for nearly 98% of the economy.

Cameroon’s public debt remains below the 70% convergence ceiling set for members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC. The International Monetary Fund, using its own debt perimeter, estimated government debt at about 40% of GDP in 2025.

The IMF projects economic growth of 3.3% in 2026 and has called for fiscal discipline, stronger revenue mobilization and reforms to improve public investment management and support stronger medium-term growth.

Cameroon also presented more than 12 gigawatts of hydropower potential and CFAF 406.3 billion in climate-sensitive expenditure in the 2026 budget. The country adopted a Sustainable Financing Framework in 2025 to mobilize green, social and sustainability financing and is also exploring carbon-finance mechanisms.

The London meetings were also intended to help turn identified investment opportunities into structured, bankable projects capable of attracting institutional and private investors.

Mercy Fosoh