Approved Management Centres: 5,000 SMEs Sensitised in Douala

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Approved Management Centres: 5,000 SMEs Sensitised in Douala

The 11th edition of the awareness-raising Campaign was held under the auspices of Minister Achille Bassilekin III

02 Sep 2026 11:10

The 11th edition of the awar eness-raising tour to encou rage Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to join Approved Management Centres (CGA) opened in Douala yesterday. The two-day campaign was launched by the Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bas silekin III. This year’s theme is “Optimizing the Support Mechanism for Entrepreneurs within Approved Management Centers: Challenges, Strategies and Prospects.” According to statistics from the Business Creation Formalities Centres, 60% of newly created SMEs are owned by young people between 20 and 40 years old, and despite their energy, these young entrepreneurs face many challenges that block their growth. These include limited access to financing, poor manage ment skills, poor knowledge of production standards and regulations, and weak unders tanding of administrative, legal, and tax procedures. Most of these businesses still operate in the informal sector. That is why authorities decided to or ganize a nationwide campaign to sensitize them on the need and benefits of registering un der a CGA. Speaking to SMEs on the first day of the campaign in Douala, Minister Achille Bassilekin III said Douala alone accounts for 38% of SMEs in the formal sector in Cameroon. “The large num ber of SMEs in Douala pushed us to come here and present the facilities that work to their benefit in the Finance Law,” the minister said. He listed several incentives, including a 3-year tax holiday for new businesses, 20% tax exemption for SMEs that recruit and train youths and women, and other support measures. “The eco nomic growth of our country is a...