PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SECRETARIAT GENERAL REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland
# PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWING CABINET MEETING OF THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2025
Yaounde, 30 January 2025
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, His Excellency Joseph DION NGUTE, chaired a Cabinet Meeting on Thursday 30 January 2025 at 10am in the Auditorium of the Prime Minister’s Office. The meeting was attended by Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers Delegate and Secretaries of State.
This strategic meeting, dedicated to the Integrated Agropastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan (PIISAH), focused on the following points:
- Statement by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development on “the objectives, priorities and implementation strategy of PIISAH”;
- Statement by the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries on “developments in the animal production and industries sub-sector as a result of the implementation of PIISAH”;
- Statement by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on “the progress made in the agricultural component of PIISAH and the outlook”;
- miscellaneous.
After the introductory statement by the Head of Government, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development announced that the Head of State had ordered the development of the Integrated Agropastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan for 2024–2026. This initiative comes in response to a persistent structural trade deficit and a high inflation rate. It reflects the President’s commitment to addressing the challenges of high living costs, food security, and food sovereignty. The Plan’s implementation is estimated at CFAF 1,500 billion, to be financed gradually through domestic resources and external funding.
PIISAH aims to reduce the trade deficit by replacing imported food with abundant, high-quality local production driven by the private sector. To achieve this, three priority intervention areas have been identified. First, securing 400,000 hectares of land in the Central Plain and developing 160,000 hectares for agriculture and fishing, alongside efforts to open up production basins. Second, enhancing the production, processing, and marketing of foodstuffs. Third, promoting the dissemination of research findings and improving access to training and financing for stakeholders. In parallel, structural measures will be implemented to enhance the business environment and adapt the legislative and regulatory framework accordingly.
Referring to the PIISAH intervention strategy, the Minister of Economy highlighted its reliance on mobilising private sector operators, who will receive support from the State and technical and financial partners. Additionally, the development of value chains is seen as a key lever for strengthening the identified priority sectors.