Fostering trade opportunities between Cameroon and the United Kingdom signifies a milestone. It builds from previous initiatives undertaken by the Cameroon government, the private sector and the British business community including the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), Business Council for Africa and Cameroon Forum through its Cameroon Forum Enterprise Initiative (CFEI).

Cameroon Forum is a civil society organisation which seeks to integrate the diverse portfolio of Cameroonian professionals, associations, businesses and related institutions, towards a greater social, economic and cultural integration of Cameroonians into UK society. The ultimate goal being to foster good, diverse and rich bilateral relations between Cameroon and the United Kingdom.

CFEI – as an organ of Cameroon Forum has a specific remit to facilitate trade, investment and tourism between Cameroon and the United Kingdom. It organises seminars, workshops and trade missions. It seeks to create strategic partnerships, and as a brokerage, carry out critical sector analysis.

The CFEI has participated in the following initiatives:

February 2003: Assisted the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce during their business trip to Cameroon

March 2004: Invited to be part of the organising team of the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce business trip to Cameroon, as well as the Investment roundtable on Cameroon held at the Commonwealth Club, Northumberland Avenue, London.

May 2004: Facilitated a visit by the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts to the United Kingdom. This event was sponsored by Standard Chartered, British American Tobacco, Guinness and the Hilton Group.

November 2004: CFEI was selected as one of the Diaspora Partner Member in the ‘Africa Diaspora Investment Forum held at the Wembley Conference centre.
(Other partners were African Business Round Table, NEPAD Business Group, Africa Recruit, BEN TV, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, AFFORD, Africa Stock Exchange Association (ASEA), Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and First Securities Discount House Limited)

March 2005: Facilitated the participation of the Cameroonian Ministerial and business delegation at the Business Action for Africa organised by the Commonwealth Business Council. The aim of the said meeting was to examine how the private sector can implement the recommendations of the Commission For Africa.

July 2005: Facilitated the participation of the Cameroonian Ministerial and business delegation at the Business Action for Africa II organised by the Commonwealth Business Council in conjunction with the Commission for Africa. This was organised to gather recommendations from the global business community as to the best role which the private sector can play as the G8 leaders discuss poverty eradication and wealth creation in Africa.

December 2005: With Africa Recruit organised an HR event – ‘Cameroon Recruit’ in Yaounde, Cameroon – a two day seminar / workshop targeting Cameroonians in the diaspora for employment opportunities in Cameroon.

November 2006: Facilitated the participation of the Cameroon Ministry of Tourism at the World Tourism Market held at the Docklands

April 2007: Facilitated the participation of Cameroon professionals at the Africa Union-Caribbean Diaspora Conference

2008: Facilitated the participation of members of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce and Industry CCCI on the occasion of the United Kingdom African Business Roundtable.