The Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, accompanied by his counter part from Agriculture, Gabriel Mbaïrobe, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Samen Industry S.A. factory in Baré-Bakem on February 27, 2026. This project, highly valued by the SPX-CMR, marks a resounding victory for the import-substitution policy and the National Development Strategy (SND30).

Cameroon's economic history is accelerating in the Moungo Division. With the launch of this unit boasting a capacity of 32,000 tons, the country consolidates an unprecedented performance: locally processing over 80% of its cocoa production. "This is a world record," emphasized the Minister of Commerce, noting that the initial target of 40% has been shattered. This dynamic, led by Cameroonian promoter Patrice Samen, aims to break the dependence on erratic global prices by capturing value-added on national soil.

Beyond the infrastructure, the Government advocates for an inclusive vision. The formal appeal to industrialists to open their capital to producer cooperatives marks a break from rentier models. By integrating farmers into the dividends of finished products, Cameroon secures the most vulnerable link in the chain while leveraging the excellence of its "origin cocoa," recently awarded a gold medal at the Cacao of Excellence Awards in Amsterdam.

A wealth of opportunities for industrial subcontracting

For the SPX-CMR, the emergence of local giants like Samen Industry S.A. acts as a major catalyst for the national subcontracting network. The construction and maintenance of such industrial units open concrete perspectives for specialized SMEs.

"The shift toward massive on-site processing creates an unprecedented demand for industrial maintenance, precision logistics, and technological grinding solutions. Our subcontractors must align with these standards to support this cocoa revolution," analyzes an industrial development expert. The goal is to ensure that peripheral services for the factory—such as packaging, transport, and electrical maintenance—are primarily captured by local engineering.

This structuring will be at the heart of the future National Cocoa Policy, expected before July 2026. For the members of the Exchange, this project in Baré-Bakem proves that "Made in Cameroon" is no longer limited to raw materials but now extends to complete industrial mastery, offering fertile ground for the emergence of national champions in technical subcontracting.