The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has begun formal steps to secure land in Cameroon for a regional headquarters and a reference medical centre, Cameroonian authorities said, underscoring the country’s ambition to host more continental institutions.
The plans were discussed during high-level talks in Yaounde between an Afreximbank delegation led by Ibrahim Bagarama, head of the bank’s Central Africa mission, and Cameroon’s Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure, Henri Eyebe Ayissi.
According to the ministry, Afreximbank intends to build an ultra-modern headquarters to serve as a base for its Central Africa operations, strengthening banking and trade finance activities across the sub-region. Alongside the headquarters project, the pan-African lender plans to develop a reference medical centre in partnership with Cameroon’s National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS).
“These are strategic projects with strong economic and social impact,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the discussions focused on the institutional support required to secure suitable and legally protected land.
Eyebe Ayissi welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating access to land for large-scale investments aligned with national development priorities.
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“Supporting high-value-added projects begins with making appropriate land available. Cameroon is determined to support partners who contribute to development,” the minister said.
Land availability and legal security remain a critical issue for investors in Cameroon, where complex tenure systems have often slowed major projects. The government has in recent years pledged to streamline land procedures to attract long-term capital and reinforce the country’s role as a regional hub.
The proposed Afreximbank headquarters is expected to host staff and anchor the institution’s presence in Central Africa, potentially generating spillover effects in employment, demand for services and regional integration. Afreximbank plays a key role in financing African trade and supporting intra-African commerce, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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The planned medical centre, to be developed with the CNPS, reflects a growing emphasis on public-institutional partnerships in Cameroon’s health sector. Once completed, the facility is expected to serve as a reference centre, improving access to specialised care and strengthening the technical capacity of medical personnel.
While no financial figures or timelines were disclosed, officials said the scale of the projects points to long-term capital investment and sustained operational activity.
Bagarama said Afreximbank was encouraged by the authorities’ response. He cited the “openness and responsiveness” of Cameroonian officials and said both sides had agreed to continue technical consultations to identify suitable sites and accelerate land-related procedures.
The initiative fits Afreximbank’s broader strategy to deepen its footprint across Africa by anchoring operations in stable and strategically located economies. For Cameroon, hosting a Central Africa headquarters of the pan-African lender would reinforce its ambition to position itself as a regional economic centre, capable of attracting structured investments in finance, healthcare and regional integration.
