Afriland First Bank and the Interprogress Foundation renewed their partnership on April 15, 2026, in preparation for the 10th International Business, SME and Partnership Fair (Promote). The event will take place from June 12 to 21, 2026, at the Yaoundé Conference Centre. This renewed collaboration highlights a strong commitment to Cameroonian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The flagship announcement of this partnership is the full coverage of participation costs for 40 selected SMEs. In addition, Afriland First Bank will offer a 30 to 35% reduction on participation costs for companies that are already clients of the bank. Beyond the financial aspect, the bank plans commercial support for its exhibiting clients, including personalized advice, networking opportunities and visibility support. The goal is to transform the presence of SMEs at Promote into a real tool for prospecting and business development, going beyond simple institutional exposure.
The Interprogress Foundation sees this partnership as an opportunity to refocus Promote on business. The idea is to create an environment where exposure, financing, business opportunities and support meet, thus overcoming the difficulties of access to financing, markets and structuring tools that SMEs often encounter. Pierre Zumbach, senior advisor to the Interprogress Foundation, emphasizes that Afriland First Bank was a major partner at the 2022 and 2024 editions, and that the show must continue to play a key role in economic meetings serving Cameroonian companies.
For Afriland First Bank, this partnership is part of a long-term vision of its role in Cameroon's economic development. Célestin Guela Simo, CEO of the bank, highlights the desire of a financial institution committed to supporting companies, particularly in their growth and partnership projects. The 2026 edition of Promote coincides with the 25th anniversary of the show and the 40th anniversary of Afriland First Bank, an opportunity to highlight the bank's long-term strategy, particularly through its "Afriland Horizon 2030" plan, which aims to support the emergence of African economic champions.
In 2025, Afriland First Bank granted more than 1,200 billion FCFA in loans to private companies, with a total outstanding loan amount of 1,667 billion FCFA. Deposits amounted to 1,950 billion FCFA, contributing to a total balance sheet of approximately 2,550 billion FCFA. The bank has a network of around 100 branches in Cameroon and is present in 10 African countries. Promote 2026 will have to demonstrate its ability to generate concrete results for participating SMEs, in terms of contracts, business opportunities and access to finance.
