Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
Cameroon’s entrepreneurial community took a bold step toward continental integration on September 13, 2025, as the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) of the Henri Kouam Foundation hosted a transformative training on “Unlocking African Entrepreneurship through the African Trade Observatory (ATO)” at Hotel Franco, Yaoundé.
The session, which brought together 26 local entrepreneurs, was led by Mr. Henri Kouam, Cameroon’s leading AfCFTA Trade Expert and Executive Director of CEPI, with the generous support of Atlas Network and Phoenix Construction.
Setting the tone for the day, Mr. Kouam introduced CEPI’s mission to empower Cameroonian entrepreneurs to trade competitively across Africa. He reminded participants that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed in Kigali in 2018, seeks to create a unified market where goods, services, capital, and people can move freely—ushering in a new era of African economic cooperation.
Bridging Information Gaps through the ATO
At the heart of the training was the African Trade Observatory (ATO) — a groundbreaking AfCFTA tool designed to centralize trade data, reduce information gaps, and empower entrepreneurs to make informed business decisions.
Mr. Kouam explained that the platform provides traders with access to rules, regulations, tariffs, and export requirements for any African country.
He further outlined the eight AfCFTA protocols — covering goods, services, competition, intellectual property, investment, women and youth, digital trade, and dispute resolution — as well as other operational tools like the E-tariff negotiation portal and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Using live demonstrations, Mr. Kouam guided participants through the ATO platform, showing how to search products by HS Codes and identify relevant export conditions.
Entrepreneurs were particularly interested in how the platform could simplify market access and reduce dependency on costly consultants.
A Conversation on Access and Growth
The interactive session that followed sparked discussions around market access, product certification costs, and strategies to accelerate scaling and exportation.
Participants voiced concerns about production norms and called for greater government support in subsidizing agricultural research, fertilizers, and seeds.
Among their recommendations were maintaining VAT exemptions for locally made flour, strengthening local fertilizer and seed industries, and improving transparency in export procedures.
They also urged the Ministries of Commerce, Economy, and Customs to publish all export and import procedures online, allowing entrepreneurs to navigate the process independently and cost-effectively.
Mr. Kouam assured participants that CEPI is already in contact with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure entrepreneurs gain access to comprehensive trade information and resources for export readiness.
Entrepreneurs Want More
Local entrepreneurs praised CEPI’s initiative, noting that such capacity-building sessions are critical for enhancing competitiveness under the AfCFTA. Many called for similar training to be held monthly to deepen their understanding and confidence in cross-border trade.
