Cameroon: Paul Biya, promoting structural infrastructure and a renewed strategy to attract investors
For several years, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, has emphasized infrastructure development as a key lever for the country’s economic transformation.
Faced with persistent challenges related to the state of the road network, access to energy, and the modernization of urban areas, the Head of State has launched a series of ambitious projects designed to enhance national connectivity and stimulate growth.
In the road sector, a stated priority is the rehabilitation and construction of strategic road sections that facilitate trade and reduce logistics costs.
Among these major projects are the Ngaoundéré–Garoua, Ebolowa–Akon II–Kribi, and Mora–Kousseri roads, as well as the continuation of urban highways around Yaoundé and Douala.
President Paul Biya has underlined the importance of these corridors for linking production centers to regional and international markets, while also reorganizing road funds to improve the financing of these works.
Simultaneously, the administration has encouraged large-scale initiatives in the energy sector.
Hydroelectric and photovoltaic projects are being expanded to increase national capacity and reduce electricity outages, thereby creating a more solid foundation for local industry.
Furthermore, recent financial measures authorize significant loans to modernize major cities such as Douala and Yaoundé, supporting sustainable urban development projects.
In terms of attracting investors, the government has undertaken a reform of the investment incentive framework.
Signed in 2025, this reform replaces automatic benefits with a performance-based system, rewarding investors who create jobs, promote local integration, and contribute to exports.
This targeted approach applies to key sectors such as industry, agribusiness, energy, transport, and digital technology, with incentive periods adjusted according to the investor’s actual contribution to the economy.
Collectively, these initiatives illustrate President Biya’s commitment to transforming the country’s infrastructure and strengthening the Cameroon’s attractiveness of Cameroon to foreign investors, despite the demanding economic context.
Their success, however, will depend on the effective implementation of these policies and the ability to mobilize the necessary financing.
Baba GADO
