Italy is showing increasing interest in Cameroon, aiming to strengthen its presence in key sectors such as textiles, cocoa, and energy. The Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, S.E. Natalia Sanginiti, met with the Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, on Friday, March 6, 2026, to discuss deepening trade relations between the two countries.
S.E. Natalia Sanginiti, who took office on October 29, 2025, expressed her desire to continue and expand the positive relations established by her predecessors with the Ministry of Commerce. She pointed out that the trade balance is currently in Cameroon's favor, while noting Italy's interest in high-potential sectors, including renewable energy and the construction and public works sector.
The Minister of Commerce welcomed this dynamic and called for renewed cooperation, focused on partnership and risk-sharing between Cameroonian and Italian economic operators, particularly through the creation of joint ventures. This approach is in line with the vision of the Head of State, S.E. Paul Biya, which aims to structurally transform the Cameroonian economy by valuing local products.
Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana presented an ambitious economic program to Italian operators, highlighting the textile sector, where Italy is a world leader and Cameroon is a cotton producer. He also mentioned wood, public works, and the agri-food sector, with a particular focus on cocoa, whose quality is recognized and which could benefit from the expertise of Italian companies like Ferrero.
The Minister of Commerce emphasized Cameroon's strengths, including its diversified potential and access to vast African (AfCFTA) and European (Economic Partnership Agreements) markets, representing a total of nearly 2 billion consumers. Italy is the only country within the G7 and BRICS where Cameroon has maintained a trade surplus since 2014. In 2023, Italy was Cameroon's sixth-largest trading partner globally. Cameroon's main exports to Italy include crude oil, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and raw aluminum. The relevance of this vision was praised by Ambassador Natalia Sanginiti.
