Yaounde to host Nigeria-Cameroon July business exposition

The city of Yaounde is set to host the Nigeria-Cameroon Economic, Financial and Cultural Show (NICAMEX) from 12 to 19 July, its organizers confirmed to APA on Friday.

The exposition is geared toward promoting Made in Cameroon products and accentuating the country’s claim as a fine destination for investors emanating from its great neighbour.

The Africa Business Club, the organizer of the exposition said 2,000 participants will be drawn from the two countries, crammed in a total of 250 stands; strengthened by the presence of over 25,000 visitors.

NICAMEX 2016 will include a series of Business to Government(B2A) meetings for direct talks with the highest Nigerian administrative authorities, and Business to Business (B2B) sessions for face-to-face encounters between importing partners or trademark representatives.

The itinerary of the exhibition will also include Business to Consumer (B2C) meetings to allow companies to reassert their reputation to their customers and visitors.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Finance, in 2014, Nigeria

was Cameroon’s leading trading partner in West Africa, accounting for 42 percent of its exports and 61 percent of imports, followed by Ivory Coast (28 percent).

Nigeria, holding 11.5 percent of global trade, was also Cameroon’s

second largest bilateral trading partner after China and ahead of Spain, France, India and the Netherlands.

In terms of the overall balance of payments, it was in deficit with

Nigeria (-CFA 570.7 billion) from CFA 414.2 billion in 2013.

As for key suppliers, Nigeria also ranked second behind China and

ahead of France.

Significantly, Cameroon and Nigeria are currently waging a joint military campaign against the Islamist sect Boko Haram, whose fighters have been very active on both sides of their common border for more than three years.