(Business in Cameroon) – The Edéa National Pilot Business Incubator (PNPE) has granted CFA200 million ($325,000) in direct subsidies since 2021.
The Cameroonian government has provided CFA200 million in direct grants to entrepreneurs since the launch of the first cohort of the Edéa National Pilot Business Incubator (PNPE) in 2021. The incubator is located in Sanaga-Maritime, in the Littoral region.
The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (Minpmeesa) disclosed the figures during the inauguration of the incubator’s fifth cohort. According to the ministry, the financial support has helped project holders mature their business ideas, strengthen management capacity, and launch operational enterprises.
Since its creation in 2019, the PNPE has supported over 80 startups and small enterprises. These ventures have contributed to job creation, the promotion of local resources, and a reduction in import dependency. Some firms emerging from the incubator have begun exporting goods, enhancing Cameroon’s participation in regional value chains.
The fifth cohort, which started this year, marks a scale-up of the initiative. Forty new entrepreneurs—up from 25 in previous cycles—were selected for their potential to quickly transform innovative ideas into viable and competitive businesses.
Their projects cover strategic sectors identified by the government, including agribusiness, forestry and non-timber forest products, the cotton-leather-textile chain, and digital innovation.
Participants will undergo an alternating program centered on technological and organizational innovation. The curriculum includes an acceleration pathway designed to strengthen entrepreneurial skills, assess each project’s strengths and weaknesses, and ease access to financing.
With its expanded capacity, the PNPE is entering a new phase in its mission to nurture entrepreneurship. The incubator aims to become a national and regional reference by 2031, supported by its strategic partnership with the University of Douala’s Institute of Technology (IUT).
This article was initially published in French by Frédéric Nonos
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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