Tunisian investors are drawn to Cameroon’s robust potential, as highlighted by Nabil Ammar.

The recent visit of Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar to Cameroon has marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between Tunisia and Cameroon. The visit, which included meetings with Tunisian companies operating in Cameroon and the signing of several bilateral cooperation agreements, underscores the growing interest of Tunisian investors in the Cameroonian market.

Cameroon, with its strategic location in Central Africa, offers a gateway to the region’s markets and boasts a wealth of natural resources, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment. The country’s potential in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development has not gone unnoticed by Tunisian businesses looking to expand their international footprint.

During his visit, Minister Ammar visited two Tunisian companies, STUDI INTERNATIONAL and SCET TUNISIE, to understand their operations and address any concerns of Tunisians working in Cameroon. This move reflects Tunisia’s commitment to supporting its investors abroad and facilitating their endeavours in fostering cooperation with African nations.

The culmination of the 11th session of the Tunisian-Cameroonian Joint Commission in Yaoundé, which Minister Ammar attended alongside his Cameroonian counterpart, Mbella Mbella, resulted in the signing of several bilateral cooperation agreements. These agreements cover various fields, including housing, education, culture, and a mutual visa exemption for holders of special and diplomatic passports.

The significance of these developments cannot be overstated. They represent a concerted effort by both nations to strengthen their economic ties and create a conducive environment for investment and trade. The agreements signed will likely pave the way for increased Tunisian investment in Cameroon, contributing to the economic growth and development of both countries.

Minister Ammar’s remarks during the visit highlighted Tunisia’s openness to Africa and its readiness to welcome African brothers for study, health, tourism, or investment purposes while respecting Tunisian legislation on residence. This statement reaffirms Tunisia’s position as a country that values collaboration and mutual growth with its African counterparts.

The positive outcomes of Minister Ammar’s visit to Cameroon are a testament to the strong potential that Cameroon holds for Tunisian investors. It is a potential that is rooted in shared aspirations for prosperity and development. As these bilateral relations continue to flourish, we can expect to see a thriving partnership that benefits not only Tunisia and Cameroon but the entire African continent.

While in Yaoundé where he co-chaired the 11th Session of the Tunisia-Cameroon Joint Commission on April 26 and 27, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad spoke to EcoMatin. In this interview, HE Nabil Ammar sheds light on relations between the two countries, highlighting the interest of Tunisian investors in various sectors ranging from the social economy to health, including air transport. The Tunisian minister also discusses Cameroon’s place among his country’s trading partners, and the need to strengthen cooperation to face common challenges, including the issue of illegal immigration. Interview.

Mr. Minister, you co-chaired with your Cameroonian counterpart the 11th Session of the Tunisia-Cameroon Joint Commission in Yaoundé on April 26 and 27. What meaning do you give to such an event?

It is an important event which marks the cooperation between two African countries which have maintained excellent relations on all levels since the years of our independence. I led a large delegation of investors to this Tunisia-Cameroon Commission, including the president of Tunisian employers. Our cooperation with Cameroon is multidimensional. I had the privilege of meeting several sectoral members of the government to whom I confirmed our interest in strengthening our bilateral cooperation.

Initially announced to be held in October 2020, this 11th ^Session was never able to be held. For what?

First, there was Covid-19. Afterwards, we had to arrange to find a date. Each country had its calendar constraints. But as soon as we had the chance, we set a date. We prepared it well on both the Tunisian and Cameroonian sides. We all hope that we will achieve concrete results. Our relations are excellent but we must boost them further because the potential is considerable between our two countries.

The previous meeting of this type took place in March 2016 in Tunis. It resulted in the signing of four cooperation agreements in the fields of higher education, health, tourism and crafts. Eight years later, what assessment can you make of the implementation of these agreements?

We have implemented these different agreements, even if it has not been done perfectly due to certain hazards such as COVID-19. It was a crisis that needed to be managed. And therefore, this 11th ^Session was an opportunity to sign new agreements and to see how to improve the implementation of the agreements that have already been signed. The potential for action and concrete projects between the two countries are very interesting and deserve to be implemented. For example, Tunisia is Cameroon’s guest of honour at the next National Crafts Forum which takes place in a few weeks. We are keen to mark our participation in this event which will certainly help boost cooperation between our two countries in the craft sector, which is one of the growing sectors.

Exactly, Mr. Minister, what are the other sectors that interest Tunisia in Cameroon?

The Tunisian economy is very diversified. Cameroon is an immensely rich country with strong potential which interests Tunisian investors. It is relatively very easy to find sectors of common interest wherever we can work together and move forward, including everything relating to the social economy, professional training, new information and communication technologies, and transport. Regarding transport, there is an agreement which will be implemented before the end of 2024 with the opening of a Tunis – Douala airline. It is a very important instrument to bring Tunisians closer to Cameroonians and vice versa, and also to bring our business community closer together so that it creates wealth in much more optimal conditions. All sectors are interesting. Whether we are talking about agriculture, transport, services, health… all sectors support increased cooperation between our two countries.

What place does Cameroon occupy in the commercial relations that Tunisia maintains with its various economic partners?

Cameroon occupies a special place in Tunisia’s relations with its economic partners. It is a very important partner for Tunisia in Central Africa. It is very important to maintain smooth relationships. This greatly energizes relations at the economic and commercial levels which in turn will only strengthen mutual interests and joint work in the interest of our two peoples and that of Africa. Today, we are satisfied with what Cameroon brings to Tunisia and as with our Cameroonian brothers, we are ambitious too; we always want to do more because we see that the potential is significant and that we have not done enough since our independence. When we look at the international context, it is the moment to become aware of all our potential and to develop it. We must release energies and initiatives in our two respective countries, open up to each other, and become aware of our riches. We must not let others covet our natural wealth and push away our populations.  

The Tunisian head of state announced in a press release published on February 21, 2023, that “urgent measures” were necessary “against illegal immigration of nationals from sub-Saharan Africa”. Some media have spoken of a “witch hunt” against sub-Saharan migrants. How did we react to these accusations in Tunis?

This is the work of certain Non-Governmental Organizations which have a hidden political agenda against Tunisia. They saw that our response was firm and consistent, and they tried to revise their manoeuvres. In addition to these NGOs, there are also States which had the same agenda; Tunisia had to accept a situation which is not acceptable to any country in the world. Tunisia had to obey what they wanted and play the role of policeman of the Mediterranean. We said loud and clear: no. We also said that we respect all our international obligations and that we must also respect Tunisian law and denounce this shameful trafficking of human beings which is often carried out outside Africa, by mafia gangs who take advantage of the vulnerability of these people. and that they make them real modern slaves with all kinds of dangers awaiting them.

We said that we had to stop this whole process with all the countries affected by this scourge, but we did not find much support from our partners in the North. Precisely, because there was a program which consisted of pushing Tunisia to do alone what they refused to do. We should not be surprised to then face flows of illegal migrants in precarious situations. There will be situations where people will suffer.

You mentioned the lack of support from your neighbours. Faced with such silence, what actions are being taken to guarantee effective management of immigration in Tunisia?

We are sounding the alarm to say that together we must find solutions. And the medium-term solution is the creation of wealth for all these populations in their respective countries. We have on the table a working session planned in Tunis to look into this issue. It is beyond the capacity of each country to find solutions alone, including Tunisia. Despite our limited resources, our navy is exhausted from fishing for corpses at sea daily. We do this while respecting Tunisia’s international obligations. Non-Africans must not try to create discord between our States. Africa is the continent of the future, everyone knows it. He has what it takes to succeed with his daughters and sons. It is up to us to take charge and have responsible dialogue and actions. We must believe in our potential. Something needs to change in our mentalities to achieve this. We liberated ourselves politically in the 1960s, we must now liberate ourselves economically. We have all the means to do so, especially by learning from everything that has gone wrong since our independence.