North West: More Local Products To Be Standardised, Certified

Bamenda (Mezam) - The government has launched a programme to streng­ then the standardisation and certifi­ cation of locally processed products in the North-West, with 83 Small and Medium sized Enterprises and Social Economy players and handicraft pro­ duction units selected to receive free technical support. The initiative was launched September 1, 2026 at the MINEPAT Hall, Up Station, Bamenda, with the objective to improve product quality and competitiveness while ad­ vancing Cameroon's import-substitu­ tion drive. The initiative, organised by the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (MINP­ MEESA), is being implemented under the theme, “Strengthening State Sup­ port for the Standardisation and Cer­ tification of Local Products Processed by SMEs, Social Economy Players and Handicraft Production Units.” Opening the workshop, the Regional Delegate of MINPMEESA for the North- West, Ngangjo Cliff, stressed that local producers must focus not only on in­ creasing production but also on im­ proving quality. “They have to know that quality is what causes sustaina­ bility in the market,” he stated. The selected beneficiaries will first undergo capacity-building on standards, certi­ fication procedures and government support mechanisms. This will be fol­ lowed by technical visits and on-site coaching at their production facilities. Experts from Yaoundé will assess pro...