Bridging Continents: New Initiatives To Boost Competitiveness For Cameroon's Women Entrepreneurs

In a major step toward fostering international cooperation, Oussoumanou Sehou, the Provincial Delegate (Quebec) of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Commerce, recently held an official meeting with Cameroon’s Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof. Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa.
The high-level discussions centered on strategic initiatives aimed at boosting women's economic empowerment, female entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and skill development for future generations.

Bridging Cameroon, The Diaspora, Global Partners
The meeting served as a platform to present the strategic vision of Horizon Cameroon, an initiative dedicated to strengthening ties between Cameroon, its vibrant diaspora, and international partners - particularly those in Canada.
Concretely, an official invitation was extended to the Minister to attend the upcoming major international Horizon Cameroon gathering, scheduled for November 14, 2026, in Montreal, Canada. This landmark event will bring together diaspora representatives, entrepreneurs, investors, institutions, universities, and international stakeholders to collaborate on development, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

Future Place For Women 
A core focus of the dialogue was ensuring that women and young girls are not left behind in the rapidly evolving global economy. Participants highlighted the critical need to facilitate access to training in cutting-edge fields, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation; electromobility and green economy occupations; smart agriculture and agritech, and the digital health and the circular economy.
"New technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to accelerate women's economic empowerment, boost productivity, facilitate market access, and enhance competitiveness," noted the delegation.
Special attention was also given to supporting female entrepreneurs currently operating in the informal sector. Acknowledging that these women form the backbone of the local economy and family support systems, the meeting explored concrete avenues to help structure their businesses. Discussions focused on providing them with better access to digital tools, specialized training, financing, and broader markets.

Business, Smart Agriculture
The meeting benefited from the insights of key Canadian and international business representatives. Karine, representing Business.ca, emphasized the critical importance of capacity building and institutional support. She advocated for practical training, mentorship, and structured programs designed to help women entrepreneurs optimize their business management and unlock growth potential.
Patrick, an AgriTech expert, shared vision and experience regarding modernizing the agricultural sector. He highlighted how agricultural agents can drive tech adoption, transfer best practices, and optimize supply chains. The delegation noted that merging smart agriculture with targeted training could open massive economic doors for women and youth in rural communities.

Turning Discussions Into Actionable Programmes
The meeting concluded in an exceptionally warm, constructive, and forward-looking atmosphere. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to turning these discussions into actionable programmes - such as remote training, mentorship networks, and digital literacy initiatives. By leveraging the expertise of the Cameroonian diaspora and the Canada–Africa Chamber of Commerce network.

Future Place For Women 
A core focus of th...