The American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon was inaugurated September 25.
President Biya’s vast infrastructural development and President Obama’s Initiative to create more jobs in the United States by doubling American exports across the globe is a happy coincidence that signals more commitment to investment in Cameroon as well as a mutually-increased export between the two countries.
The measure is important because for every export value of 200,000 dollars, at least a job is offered in America. American export has created 1,000 jobs in America. Supported by a steady increase, the volume of trade exchanges between the two countries have risen by 26 per cent to 269 billion FCFA. Cameroon’s export to the United States through Africa’s Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) witnessed a 21 per cent growth (86,5 billion FCFA) between 2010 and 2011. On the other hand, US export to the country rose simultaneously by 66 per cent, that is, 108 billion FCFA within the same period, indicating a positive progression in trade exchanges between the two countries owed to a wide range of measures.
Accompanied by a visiting delegation of the US Chamber of Commerce, Robert J. Jackson, US Ambassador in Yaounde, speaking at a ceremony to officially inaugurate the American Chamber in Cameroon (AmCham), situated in Akwa-Douala, pointed out that talks held in Ohio in the area of energy, infrastructure, transport, water and sanitation last June in which Cameroon has a huge potential will be important boost in to relations between the two countries. Together trade can create jobs in the two countries and the US is ready to chip in every bid of effort to accomplish it even as President Obama is working with the US Congress for a continuous AGOA.
The concerns of Cameroonian businessmen, present at the ceremony, hinged on measures to lift certain export barriers, and reluctance by the US Embassy to grant visas, the little or no assistance to help the Cameroonian export to meet norms and standards for products entering the US, which sometimes discourage newcomers and embryo exporters. AmCham, the US Embassy and others are ready to support initiatives in the area.
