PROMOTE 2026: Afriland First Bank renews deal as main sponsor.

The deal was renewed during a ceremony in Yaounde Thursday. The Director General, DG, of Afriland First Bank, Guela Simo Celestin, signed for the financial institution, while Pierre Zumbach, High Counsellor at the Presidency of the Inter-Progress International Foundation, signed for the international organisation.

The event, in its 10th edition, will take place at the Yaounde Conference Centre, from June 12 to 21, 2026. 

It will be under the theme: “Private enterprises and the business environment: What benchmarks should be used to address national and international economic challenges”. 

According to Afriland First Bank DG, the renewal of the deal speaks of the Bank’s commitment to power economic growth not only in Cameroon but across Sub Saharan Africa and beyond.

With 40 years of experience, Guela said this year’s PROMOTE holds unique significance as the bank stands ready to expand its support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, SMEs, and businesses in general.

Afriland First Bank, he said, is standing as a key partner with its huge experience to support Inter-Progress International Foundation in its 25 years work to give businesses visibility.

The DG said through Afriland First Bank’s lead sponsorship which has been steady since 2022, the Bank is keeping alive PROMOTE as a rendezvous to revive economic growth and multiple opportunities for business growth and wealth creation across Central Africa and beyond.

He restated the commitment of the Bank to work with Inter-Progress International Foundation to transform potentials into reality. Guela said Afriland First Bank remains the premier partner in making businesses competitive.

With Afriland First Bank’s 2030 agenda, Guela assured that SMEs have continued to benefit support in financing to the tune of hundreds of billions beyond the trillion mark.

Guela restated the resource mobilisation prowess of the Bank in partnership with the African Import-Export Bank, Afrexim Bank and the African Development Bank to ease access to financing for businesses.

Beyond praising the resilience of Inter-Progress in keeping the PROMOTE scheme alive, Guela noted that, Afriland First Bank has remained at the heart of structural support to the economy for four decades and still counting.

Enter Coordinator

The Deputy Director General of Afriland First Bank, Dieudonne Herve Ayisi, who is the Coordinator of PROMOTE 2026 assured reporters of the level of the Bank’s support to the event.

During this year’s PROMOTE, he said Afriland First Bank will take charge of 40 businesses, including putting experts at their disposal to power their growth.

Ayisi noted that, beyond such support, the Bank through the lead sponsorship deal that has been renewed will take care of at least 35 percent of the cost of participation for all enterprises.

‘Afriland First Bank is exemplary’ 

Pierre Zumbach, High Counsellor at the Presidency of the Inter-Progress International Foundation, used yesterday’s event to praise Afriland First Bank.

He said the financial institution has continued to headline exemplary ventures especially through PROMOTE, making it attractive and boosting businesses.

“Afriland First Bank is contributing in an exemplary manner to improve the attractiveness and usefulness of PROMOTE, known as a place for strategic meetings to boost businesses, enterprises and the Cameroonian economy, showing that it is at the heart of wealth creation,” Zumbach stated.

Zumbach stated that since 2002 when the Head of State, President Paul Biya authorized PROMOTE, Afriland First Bank’s support especially since it became main sponsor remains salutary.

He stated that, given the uncertainties across the globe, business leaders must redouble efforts in partnering with governments to support initiatives such as PROMOTE to boost wealth creation and guarantee economic emergence.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3763 of Friday April 17, 2026