Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of Economy, conveyed the best wishes of the UAE leadership to Joseph Dion Ngute, the Prime Minister of Cameroon, wishing the country continued prosperity and success. In return, the Cameroonian Prime Minister sent his greetings to the UAE leadership and his hopes for the nation and its people to thrive continually.
This exchange took place during the official visit of Al Zeyoudi to Cameroon, leading a UAE delegation, as part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with high-growth African economies. The two sides explored a wide range of opportunities aimed at enhancing economic connections between the two nations.
Al Zeyoudi and the UAE delegation participated in the “UAE-Cameroon Trade and Investment Day” and attended meetings that centered on exploring cooperation opportunities across various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, renewable energy, finance, and telecommunications.
The Minister of Economy also met with several Cameroonian ministers, including: His Excellency Ousmane May, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development; His Excellency Gaston Eloundou Essomba, Minister of Water and Energy; His Excellency Jean-Ernest Massena Ngale Bibehe, Minister of Transport; His Excellency Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry, Minister of Mining, Industry, and Technological Development; and Her Excellency Minette Libom Li Likeng, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
During these bilateral meetings, discussions focused on available opportunities to enhance trade and investment flows between the two countries, emphasizing mutually beneficial partnerships between the business communities that can accelerate economic growth.
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi expressed optimism about the outcomes of the visit and the meetings, noting that they highlight the vast growth potential in the economic relations between the two nations. He emphasized the possibility of generating exceptional opportunities by leveraging their strengths and shared resources, reiterating the UAE’s commitment to being a trustworthy partner for sustainable development in Cameroon.
The visit underscored the rapidly growing economic ties between the UAE and Cameroon, as non-oil foreign trade witnessed significant growth in recent years, exceeding $1.24 billion in 2024, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous year and a remarkable 116% increase compared to 2022. Non-oil trade continued its upward trend in the first nine months of 2025, rising to $1.14 billion, marking a 25.4% year-on-year increase.
The increase in cooperation between the private sectors of both countries paves the way for long-term partnerships that benefit both parties, with the UAE investing in Cameroon’s infrastructure while benefiting from its strategic position as a gateway to Central Africa.
As part of the UAE’s foreign trade strategy and the comprehensive economic partnership agreements program launched in September 2021, the UAE deepens its trade and investment links with Africa, reflecting its recognition of the continent’s substantial economic growth potential.
In 2024, non-oil trade between the UAE and African countries reached $112 billion, showing a significant 34% increase compared to the previous year.
As a leading global investor, the UAE has allocated over $110 billion to Africa since 2019, underscoring its commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships that drive sustainable growth.