Tunisia-Cameroon Relations: A Future of Vast Cooperation, Says Mohamed Amine

The statement by Mohamed Amine highlights the significant potential for collaboration between Tunisia and Cameroon. This sentiment is echoed by recent developments that have seen both nations making strides towards strengthening their bilateral relations, especially in sectors such as low-cost housing and infrastructure development.

The anticipated 11th session of the Cameroon-Tunisia Grand Joint Cooperation Commission, set to take place in Yaoundé in April 2024, is a testament to the growing partnership between the two countries. This event follows a series of successful agreements signed in the past, covering a wide range of areas including education, health, tourism, and crafts. The mutual visa exemption for holders of special and diplomatic passports is another significant step towards facilitating easier movement and fostering closer ties.

The cooperation between Tunisia and Cameroon is not just a diplomatic formality but a strategic alliance that can yield tangible benefits for both nations. Tunisia’s expertise in the low-cost housing sector, combined with Cameroon’s developmental initiatives, can lead to innovative solutions to housing challenges faced by both countries. Moreover, the exchange of knowledge and resources in areas such as education and culture can enrich the lives of citizens on both sides of the Mediterranean.

As Mohamed Amine rightly pointed out, the prospects for cooperation are indeed enormous. With the upcoming joint commission session and ongoing collaborative projects, the future looks promising for Tunisia-Cameroon relations. It is an opportunity to build a partnership that is mutually beneficial and contributes to the broader goals of regional stability and economic growth.

You were the guest of honour at the 8th edition of the Cameroon International Crafts Fair (Siarc) which took place from July 22 to 31, 2024 at the National Museum of Yaoundé. On your side, what are the activities that filled the fair?

Tunisia is participating for the first time in the International Handicrafts Fair of Cameroon (Siarc). We can consider this participation as successful. For ten days, Tunisian craftsmen were able to promote our culture. They shared their experiences in the field with their Cameroonian counterparts. Also, there is a strong delegation led by the Deputy Director General of the Tunisian National Office of Handicrafts who took part in this event, and seven Tunisian craftsmen. Concerning the activities that we organized on the occasion of this fair, we have workshops, and animations in embroidery and leather goods that were provided by Tunisian craftsmen. And especially the special Tunisia Day on July 25 was a day that coincides with the 67th anniversary of the proclamation of the Tunisian Republic and also coincides with the 3rd anniversary of the launch of the reform process.

The Tunisian delegation present at SIARC was led by the Deputy Director General of the Tunisian National Office of Handicrafts. Following this fair, are there any possible repercussions on the side of Tunisia or Cameroon?

Indeed, the Deputy Director General of the Tunisian Handicrafts Office had very constructive discussions with His Excellency the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Social Economy and Handicrafts and several senior Cameroonian officials. During these discussions and interviews, ways of strengthening cooperation between Tunisia and Cameroon in the field of handicrafts were discussed and there will most likely be Cameroonian participation next September on the occasion of the organization by the Tunisian Handicrafts Office of a trade fair in the field of handicrafts. And there will certainly be Cameroonian operators present on this occasion.

You have made it clear that your experts and craftsmen have provided training sessions for several Cameroonian craftsmen. What are your assessments of Cameroonian craftsmanship?

During the ten days of the organization of the Siarc, several workshops were led by Tunisian artisans. We even had the honour of receiving His Excellency the Minister of SMEs. These workshops were an opportunity to share experiences and know-how between Tunisian and Cameroonian artisans. It must be said that Cameroon is a country that is full of great cultural and civilizational riches. Cameroonian craftsmanship is magnificent and very special. Even Tunisians had the opportunity to discover it and did not fail to express their appreciation for the progress made by Cameroon in this area.

What advice do you give to Cameroonian artisans to get to your level to increase the economic impact of this sector?

Cameroonian artisans are doing a very good job and I think that to meet the challenges we need to work together. I hope that this unprecedented Tunisian participation as a guest of honour for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa will help lay the foundations for stronger, more solid cooperation between Tunisia and Cameroon in the craft sector. We will work on consolidating ties between Tunisian and Cameroonian artisans and there will certainly be other missions in the coming months, either in Tunisia or in Cameroon. However, we must focus on the sustainability of this cooperation, and ensure the continuity and sustainability of these ties so that these actions are not sporadic. Because no one can meet the challenges alone.

There will most likely be Cameroonian participation next September on the occasion of the organization by the Tunisian handicraft office of a professional fair in the field of handicrafts.

Apart from the craft sector, cooperation between Cameroon and Tunisia also concerns several sectors including the economic aspect. In 2022 for example, the Ministry of Economy estimates trade between the two countries at 23 billion CFA francs, how does Tunisia intend to increase this sum within two or three years?

Tunisia and Cameroon are privileged partners in terms of bilateral trade and bilateral exchanges. Cameroon is our fourth trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and our first partner in Central Africa and the CEMAC region. To do this, we must intensify reciprocal visits and prospecting missions carried out by economic operators between our two countries. Already, after the holding of the Tunisia-Cameroon joint commission at the end of last April, Tunisia felt that there was a very rapid development of these cooperations. For example, a very strong Cameroonian delegation took part last June in the forum on financing trade and investment in Africa. It is called FITA, Financing Investment and Trade in Africa, which was organized by the Tunisian professional organization, Tunisia Africa Business Council. After two weeks, at the beginning of July, Cameroon was the guest of honour at the third edition of the Tunisian-African professional meetings of the ABM Tunisia Africa Business Meetings.

There was a special morning for Cameroon on July 3, and we had the honour of receiving His Excellency the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, who gave a speech on this occasion. Also, it was a strong Cameroonian delegation that took part in this event with 21 Cameroonian economic operators. To continue to boost these trade relations, we believe that it is necessary to intensify reciprocal visits and missions in both directions. This is a work that we carry out first of all in coordination between the Embassy and our commercial representation in Douala and also in close coordination with the Cameroonian party.

Cameroon is our fourth trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, our first partner in Central Africa and in the CEMAC region.

It should be mentioned in this regard that Tunisia and Cameroon are among the countries participating in the guided trade initiative that was launched in October 2022 by the secretariat of the AfCFTA, the African Continental Free Trade Area. The two countries have indeed started exploiting the benefits offered by this zone in July 2023, and Tunisia’s very first exploitation operation under the AfCFTA was in Cameroon. Other initiatives will be carried out in the coming months to further develop our trade.

Can we already have a vision of the Tunis Air project’s services?

Regarding Tunisair, yes, the launch of the direct air link Tunisia-Cameroon is planned for next December. Our national airline Tunis Air is in close coordination with the various Cameroonian stakeholders for the very rapid establishment of this direct air link which is very important for the consolidation of links between the two countries and in particular commercial links. We hope that by the end of the year, the Tunis – Douala flight will be carried out.

What are the prospects for Tunisia and Cameroon in the commercial and bilateral sectors?

The prospects for cooperation between Tunisia and Cameroon are enormous in different areas, not only in the commercial area but in the areas of ​​higher education, vocational training, tourism, energy, forestry, agriculture, urban development, infrastructure, etc. I believe that there are many opportunities, that there are very enormous prospects.

There are other initiatives that will be carried out in the coming months to further develop trade between Tunisia and Cameroon.

There are even encouraging signs, I come back to the success of the 11th Tunisia-Cameroon Joint Commission which was organized here in Yaoundé at the end of April. There is a strong political will in both countries to boost bilateral relations between Tunisia and Cameroon. And so the prospects are there, the opportunities are there. What remains is that the private sector between the two countries must also seize this momentum characterized by the strong political will to develop bilateral relations between the two countries.