According to Lebogang Makoloi, the head of the Central and East African department of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cameroon is a country that is “strategic for South African investors due to the role the Douala port plays in the CEMAC zone” – the regional organisation made up of six countries: Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Chad.

With countries such as Chad and the Central African Republic being dependent on the port of Douala, “doing business with Cameroon also opens the door to conquering other CEMAC markets.”

With these South African goals in mind, Vice-President of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Ekoko Mukété, simply wished to quickly create partnerships between the businessmen of both countries, but noted that several contacts have been made between Cameroonian and South Africa investors without any tangible result in the end.