Yaounde: SMEs ministry unveils plan to boost productivity in 2,000 businesses.

The ceremony was presided over by the Minister of SMEs, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, in the presence of the Japanese Ambassador, Minami Kentaro, representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, business leaders and newly certified professionals.

According to MINPMEESA, the event recognised enterprises, consultants and inspectors that have distinguished themselves in applying the Kaizen methodology, a Japanese management approach centred on continuous improvement and productivity enhancement. 

According to figures presented during the ceremony, the programme has trained 168 certified Kaizen consultants, supported more than 2,050 SMEs and delivered 148 Kaizen certifications. MINPMEESA stated that several local companies have also received recognition at continental competitions, while local experts are now providing training and technical support in other African countries.

Speaking during the ceremony, Ambassador Minami Kentaro said the Japanese government remains committed to promoting the methodology because of its contribution to private sector development. He noted that Japan considers Kaizen as a key tool for strengthening business performance and competitiveness.

“We are convinced that the sustainable development of a nation rests on the performance and competitiveness of its private sector. I warmly congratulate Cameroon, which, year after year, has successfully embraced this culture of excellence,” he said.

The Resident Representative of JICA in Cameroon, Okumoto Masakatsu, highlighted the progress achieved since the launch of the Kaizen project in 2015. He said the initiative was initially designed to improve the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs.

“Today, nearly 200 Kaizen consultants are certified, dozens of specialised inspectors have been trained and more than 1,500 companies have benefited from support. More remarkably, Cameroon now shares its expertise with several French-speaking African countries,” he stated.

The third phase of the project is scheduled to run until April 2027. Looking beyond that date, Minister Achille Bassilekin III outlined plans to ensure the programme’s sustainability through the creation of a Kaizen Centre of Excellence for Africa and the launch of the National Productivity and Quality Improvement Programme, PAPQ-KAIZEN.

The planned programme, MINPMEESA states, is valued at eight billion CFA francs, is expected to extend Kaizen principles to a wider range of businesses and strengthen productivity, quality management and competitiveness across the SME sector.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3841 of Wednesday July 08, 2026