Promoting Cameroonian Brands: SMEPA To Boost Production Of Made In Cameroon Packaging

By Doh Bertrand Nua 

Officials of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Promotion Agency (SMEPA) have announced plans to soon begin boosting the production of made in Cameroon packaging. The plan was unveiled by SMEPA General Manager, Jean Marie Louis Badga.

SMEPA General Manager, Jean Marie Louis Badga.

He was speaking while opening a one day workshop organised to evaluate 2020 activities of the Cameroon Food Packaging and Quality programme (CAMPACK-Q). The event at the Palloti House in Mvolye, Yaoundé Thursday 3 December 2020 brought together experts in the packaging sector and owners of many SMEs.  

The GM said boosting the production of made in Cameroon packages will help reduce importation and over dependence of Cameroonian SMEs on foreign markets who are unable to meet demand as a result of COVID-19 constraints. 

Participants pose with officials 

Badga said in order to ensure that the products are of good quality for the wellbeing of the consumers, the task to check its quality has been entrusted in the hands of the National Quality Control Service. 

This, he added will bring a holistic support and enable SMEs to better access markets, showcase their products through brand identity displayed through SMEPA-made packaging, make them competitive and gain financial stability. 

He said it is only through this support and approach that Cameroonian SMEs especially those in the agro-industrial sector which constitute an important area of wealth creation, jobs and improvement of the living conditions of the populations can be able to withstand the fierce competition.

He used the workshop to laud the efforts of consultants, experts, and the technical partners who work tirelessly to strengthen and revitalize Cameroon’s local entrepreneurial fabric. Participants used the workshop to brainstorm ways of improving packaging, local availability as well as made recommendations that will allow the establishment of innovative support mechanism.

Several presentations were made from the different experts on how to better the sector. Mbeleg Emmanuel, Audit Marketing Expert used the workshop to underscore the importance of labelling products to participants. He said labelling enables products to become more competitive compared to others available in the market without any identity.