To boost dev’t: Gov’t, Expertise France brainstorm on structuring, leveraging varied finance mechanisms.

The Minister of the Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, chaired the gathering. Present was the Head of European Union Delegation to Cameroon, Ambassador Veronika Boskovic Pohar, and the visiting Director General of Expertise France, Jérémie Pellet. 

The meeting was part of a two-day official working visit to Cameroon by the Director General of Expertise France, Jérémie Pellet, and his Deputy Director General, Amélie Delaroche. 

The visit aimed at strengthening institutional dialogue and technical cooperation, also provide an opportunity to highlight the results and prospects of the partnership between Expertise France, the Cameroonian government, the French Embassy, the French Development Agency-AFD Group, and the European Union Delegation.

Speaking at the end of the conclave, the DG of Expertise France explained that discussions centered around the Global Gateway, an EU programme which aims at channelling more financial resources for the development of Cameroun and the creation of infrastructures.  

Besides reflecting on questions of development between the European Union and Cameroun and the early results of the Global Gateway Program, the officials also strategise on the priorities in the next round of financial negotiations at the level of the EU and the support that member states can bring together to structure their ambition. 

“…at the level of Expertise France, together with our mother entity, the French Development Agency, AFD, we are really committed to be part of this Team Europe to structure and leverage on the different financings in order to develop the country,” Pellet said. 

During the session, the priorities for the government of Cameroon outline during the meeting included energy, connectivity, transportation, digital infrastructure, and value chains as key areas within the infrastructure sector.

Going by the Expertise France boss, these areas of interest align with the priorities the European Union. 

“For us, as members of this team, we will mobilize all the different components of the support that Europe can provide; government funding, specifically from the governments through public development banks such as AFD, private-sector financing through entities like Proparco, and technical assistance provided by organizations on the ground such as GIZ and Expertise France,” the Expertise France DG said. 

He also described the partnership with Cameroon as “very productive” and demonstrating the smooth dialogue between Cameroon and the European Union on development issues. 

Enter EU Ambassador 

The Head of the European Union delegation in Cameroon, Ambassador Veronika Boskovic Pohar, explained that the EU has a one-year plan for 2027 and currently considering mapping out a seven-year plan running up to 2034.

She said they plan to combine European investment and expertise with Cameroonian ingenuity for result-oriented projects especially in the energy sector. 

“We believe that energy is truly the key sector for businesses, for the private sector, and for job creation, specifically for young people, women, and the Cameroonian population,” she said. 

“…we really need to plan these investments, and this will be a 50-million investments in energy, extending it to the community level,” the EU Ambassador added. 

The Head of the EU delegation further specified that the EU together with 27 member States, including France, are actively allocating funds for Cameroon and the region. 

The diplomat revealed that the main projects during their reflection focused on infrastructure projects in major transportation corridors, energy, and digitalization.

Besides these, small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture, forestry, and value chains sectors are also considered, which will benefit the people of Cameroon and improve access to markets and jobs.  

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3916 of Monday September 19, 2026