YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — October 23, 2026

Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) have launched a $3 million regional trade initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border commerce, supporting entrepreneurs and expanding economic opportunities across Central Africa.

The project, known as the Project to Support the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (PAMOZ), was launched in Yaoundé on October 6, with support from the African Development Bank Group and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The African Development Bank is contributing $2.7 million toward the initiative, which will run for 24 months with technical support from the IOM.

The programme will focus on trade corridors connecting Douala with Bangui and Kusari, helping businesses move goods more efficiently while strengthening regional value chains and border management.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, transport operators, traders, women entrepreneurs and young business owners are among the groups expected to benefit. The initiative also seeks to encourage safer, more orderly cross-border movement and improve economic resilience in border communities.

For landlocked Central African Republic, stronger commercial links with Cameroon could help businesses access regional and international markets through established transport routes.

The initiative comes as Central African economies seek to diversify trade, attract investment and increase participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

However, the project's longer-term impact will depend on effective implementation, improved border procedures and the ability of local businesses to turn better regional connections into sustainable commercial growth.

The key opportunity is clear: stronger cross-border trade could create new business opportunities, support employment and deepen economic integration across Central Africa.