Business lawyer Jacques Jonathan Nyemb, sponsor of the first economic forum "Invest in Sanaga," aims to transform Sanaga-Maritime into an attractive territory for investors. During the forum's restitution conference, held on April 6, 2026, in Douala, he emphasized the importance of mobilizing resources, expertise, and partnerships to accelerate the department's economic development.
The initiative, themed "Structuring local investment, creating employment, and building a sustainable territorial economy," brought together over 500 exhibitors. Nyemb views this first edition as the beginning of a broader dynamic, calling for the association of diverse expertise for the implementation of future projects.
Sanaga-Maritime has considerable assets in the agro-industry, particularly in the cassava, oil palm, and plantain banana sectors. The department is home to major companies such as Alucam in Edéa, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons of aluminum and nearly 800 employees, as well as Safacam and Socapalm, active in the production of palm oil and rubber. Timber exploitation, the development of industrial zones around Edéa, and the rise of local SMEs also contribute to economic diversification.
Energy potential is another major asset, with the hydroelectric dams of Edéa (276.4 MW) and Song-Loulou (388 MW). The Grand Eweng and Kikot projects should add more than 1,000 MW to the national grid, consolidating Sanaga-Maritime's position in electricity production. By 2030, the department could account for nearly 30% of national electricity production. Its strategic geographical position, at the junction of the Yaoundé-Kribi axes, and the development of the Missolé industrial-port zone further enhance its attractiveness.
The promoters of "Invest in Sanaga" emphasize the need for better collaboration between public and private actors. In an economic context marked by informality, the challenges concern financing, the structuring of sectors, access to information, business support, and training. Jacques Jonathan Nyemb advocates a refoundation of the interprofession to improve the organization of value chains, the adequacy of training and employment, and the pooling of production resources.
The Okwelians and its partners are ready to provide technical and financial support to viable projects, within the framework of the Orca coalition, which includes The Okwelians, Remcess, Cntc, and Aivara. This approach follows the recommendations of The Okwelians Summit 2025 and aims to support communities in territorial marketing and governance. In addition to Sanaga-Maritime, the municipalities of Dzeng, Mbanga, Bandjoun, and Méri will serve as experimental grounds to demonstrate the impact of a structured territorial strategy on investment and employment.
Sanaga-Maritime aims to become a major industrial hub, relying on its resources and a redesigned territorial strategy. The "Invest in Sanaga" forum is intended as a tool for ongoing economic dialogue to realize this ambition.
