Assessment of export potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area for Cameroon

Abstract

Strategic decision-making requires good information, which should be a priority to obtain, especially in the context of trade, for which import and export statistics and information on connectivity, such as roads, rail, maritime and air routes, and the conditions of that infrastructure, are some of the key factors required for export-led growth. The present analysis demonstrates that Africa presents significant potential as a market for Cameroon if the right actions are taken and overall integration under the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area is achieved as envisaged. While a regional integration focus is necessary, it is critical to leverage global potential to achieve domestic and regional objectives. A radical focus and a step change will be required to develop exports faster than has been achieved through the typical evolutionary growth observed for most countries. A focus on greater skills- and technology-intensive manufacturing and, therefore, human capital development, will lead to greater economic wealth creation. The critical enablers for growth, however, include affordable, available, and accessible, reliable, and good-quality energy and physical infrastructure and robust institutional capability and capacity.