(Business in Cameroon) - The German Cooperation agency GIZ recently issued a call for tenders for the recruitment of a firm that will help an international consulting firm set up an incubator in the Cameroonian cotton/textile industry. According to the tender document, this initiative falls within the framework of the global project named “Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains.” In Cameroon, this project is focused on improving sustainability and added-value in the cotton industry, we learn.

“The mission duration is one and a half years spanning between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022,” the tender document informs.

Interested firms can submit their offers by June 21, 2021, at 4 PM at the GIZ regional bureau in Yaoundé.

The incubator envisaged will network entrepreneurs with technical and financial partners. It aims to support entrepreneurs, startups, and already established micro SMEs. The said support will take the form of customized training, technical supports, mentorship, and coaching with the long-term goal being to help the incubated become vested professionals with enough credibility to facilitate their access to bank loans.

As the GIZ indicates, “in Cameroon, there are several micro, small and medium textile manufacturing companies that produce textile products for the local and regional markets by using cotton. Those products include medical and hygienic goods, diapers, mattresses, work clothes, traditional accessories, etc… Yet, there is a lack of investment.” Hence the need to set up a mechanism to promote local value-added products and job creation.

The incubator being planned by the GIZ is in line with Cameroon’s 2020-2030 national development strategy (SND20-30). In the framework of that strategy, the country plans to boost its yearly cotton production to 600,000 tons by 2025 (against 310,000 tons currently). Also, the country plans to increase the volume of the national production which is processed yearly to at least 50% by 2030 and develop a national wear production industry to meet at least 50% of the demand in sports and military wear. Each of those wears must be 60% cotton, the plan outlines.

Brice R. Mbodiam