The Ministry of Commerce and GS1 Cameroon teamed up to offer a training workshop on Thursday, April 25th, in Yaoundé. This workshop equipped thirty "Made in Cameroon" promoters with valuable knowledge on packaging, labeling, and barcodes.

"Packaging is a product's window to the world, influencing buying decisions," explained the Ministry's communication unit. "Proper labeling protects consumers and combats fraud, while barcodes ensure efficient identification, inventory management, and pricing."

These elements were identified as major hurdles for local products entering the market. The Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises reports that 95% of Cameroonian artisanal products struggle due to poor marketing and inadequate packaging. The Standards and Quality Agency (ANOR) also highlighted unreliable barcodes as a barrier to supermarket shelves.

The training, spanning various sectors like food processing and cosmetics, focused on the benefits of the ‘617’ barcode – a unique identifier for top Cameroonian products. "The 617 barcode is crucial for boosting Cameroonian companies' competitiveness internationally," stated Nji Nkemboh Mirabel, Director of Commerce, who opened the workshop.

She believes empowering SMEs and promoting "economic patriotism" are key to making local products not only domestically appealing but also globally competitive.

This workshop aligns with the government's "Made in Cameroon" initiatives and the country's import-substitution policy. Cameroon aspires to become an industrialized nation, heavily relying on a thriving private sector, with a particular focus on SME development, as highlighted by the Ministry of Commerce.

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