Cameroon plans to send more than 500 companies to the 139th Canton Fair in China as part of efforts to secure industrial machinery and deepen trade ties to support its economic transformation agenda, organisers said.
The initiative was unveiled on February 26 in Douala during a press briefing organised by the China-Cameroon Business Association (CCBA), in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) and CCA Bank.
The 139th edition of the Canton Fair will take place in Guangzhou in two phases, from April 15 to May 5, 2026, with a second session scheduled for October.
According to CCBA President Alain Daniel Yando, the fair attracts more than one million participants annually, offering Cameroonian firms exposure to a vast global marketplace. More than 500 economic operators from Cameroon are expected to attend this year, seeking to strengthen commercial links with China, a partner country since diplomatic relations were established in 1971.
Focus on industrial machinery
Organisers said the delegation’s priority will be sourcing industrial equipment and production tools to facilitate local processing of raw materials. The move aligns with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2030 (NDS30), which emphasises industrialisation and value addition within the domestic economy.
For CCIMA, which has participated in the Canton Fair since 2018, the objective is to secure partnerships capable of accelerating domestic manufacturing capacity. Officials say access to modern machinery could help reduce reliance on imports of finished goods while boosting competitiveness in regional and international markets.
The CCBA noted that its network connects more than 2,000 partner companies in Cameroon and China. It also highlighted cooperation with the Nova International Cooperation Platform, which works with 2,500 chambers of commerce across China and provides access to over 100,000 partner enterprises.
Such networks are expected to broaden sourcing options and facilitate business-to-business exchanges during the fair.
Financing and trade facilitation
During the Douala briefing, CCA Bank presented financing solutions and international payment services tailored to import-export operations. The bank said its role would be to provide structured funding and mitigate risks associated with cross-border transactions.
Stakeholders stressed that the delegation’s objective extends beyond networking, with a focus on translating trade engagement into tangible industrial outcomes. By acquiring modern equipment and forging supplier partnerships, Cameroonian firms aim to enhance local production capacity in sectors ranging from agro-processing to light manufacturing.
Strengthening China ties
China is one of Cameroon’s largest trading partners and a major source of infrastructure financing and industrial goods. Participation in the Canton Fair is viewed as an opportunity to consolidate these ties while diversifying the range of commercial partnerships.
Analysts say that targeted sourcing missions can help African economies align external trade engagement with domestic industrial policy objectives. For Cameroon, the challenge will be converting exposure at international trade fairs into sustained investment, technology transfer and skills development.
Officials indicated that preparations are underway to ensure coordinated participation and follow-up mechanisms after the fair concludes.
If successful, the initiative could reinforce Cameroon’s push toward industrial transformation, using international trade platforms to secure the machinery and partnerships needed to expand local value addition.
