Yicheng Plans China Training for 100 Cameroonians Ahead of Pharma Plant Launch

Yicheng Pharmaceutical Group plans to train 100 young Cameroonians in China to support the transfer of technical skills and expertise required for its pharmaceutical and medical-device complex under construction in Meyo, Yaounde IV. The training program is part of the company’s employment plan for the industrial project, which is expected to generate about 1,500 direct jobs when completed, according to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, MINJEC.

MINJEC disclosed the figures following an audience granted to the project’s promoter, Idriss Confiance Mbe, by Youth Affairs and Civic Education Minister Mounouna Foutsou on August 26, 2026. The discussions focused on employment, vocational training and the socio-economic integration of young Cameroonians.

MINJEC did not provide the timetable, selection criteria or technical specialities covered by the China training programme. However, it said the initiative is intended to facilitate the transfer of skills and know-how needed for the pharmaceutical complex.

Following the meeting, Minister Foutsou instructed officials to establish a technical committee and a collaboration platform between MINJEC and the project promoter. The proposed framework will cover youth recruitment, training and professional integration.

Mbe said the discussions had opened the way for cooperation between Yicheng Group and the ministry in these areas. “Young entrepreneurs who create value and jobs also carry Cameroon’s flag,” he said. “Our youth have talent, ambition and energy. It is up to public and private actors to transform this potential into jobs and businesses,” he said.

Pharma investment targets import-dependent market

The Yicheng pharmaceutical complex being developed in Meyo comprises a factory for essential medicines and medical devices, a referral hospital and a research and development laboratory. The factory is expected to manufacture health products for Cameroon and the wider Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC. Its promoters say the development is designed to reduce a regional dependence on imported medicines estimated at about 90%.

The foundation stone for the project was laid in October 2025. The total investment was announced at CFAF580 billion, while the initial industrial phase was valued at CFAF30 billion. In March 2026, Business in Cameroon reported that the first phase was nearly 60% complete. More than 30 Chinese engineers had arrived to supervise finishing work, install and calibrate industrial equipment and prepare some facilities for commissioning.

The industrial project is entering a market where imported products continue to dominate supply. Data from the Competitiveness Committee, an institution attached to the Ministry of Economy, show that local manufacturers account for only about 5% of Cameroon’s market for medicines and medical supplies.

Cameroon’s pharmaceutical imports increased from CFAF69.5 billion in 2010 to about CFAF170 billion in 2024, according to figures cited by Business in Cameroon. The planned production and technical training therefore cover both industrial capacity and the specialized workforce needed to operate the plant.

Alongside the factory, Yicheng plans to construct a referral hospital intended to provide specialized care and reduce expenditure on medical evacuations abroad. The planned research laboratory will support the group’s pharmaceutical research and development activities.

Mercy Fosoh