The inaugural Diamond Capital Convention in Douala marked a turning point for Central African finance, with Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motazé unveiling a bold vision to transform Cameroon and CEMAC’s capital markets into engines of economic transformation.

Minister Louis Paul Motazé’s keynote address at the Diamond Capital Convention on September 24, 2026, in Douala sent a clear signal: Cameroon and its CEMAC partners are entering a new era of financial mobilization. The convention gathered public authorities, investors, financial institutions, regulators and economic actors to address critical challenges in funding real-sector growth.

In a decisive move, Motazé called for a profound restructuring of the Central African financial landscape, positioning capital markets as the cornerstone for Cameroon’s industrialization, infrastructure development and structural economic reforms. The minister emphasized that financing real-sector projects—rather than speculative ventures—must become the priority to drive sustainable development across the subregion.

Redirecting capital toward productive sectors

The Finance Minister outlined a strategic shift in capital allocation, urging financial institutions and investors to prioritize sectors with high transformative potential. Key areas include:

• Accelerated industrialization and local value addition
• Development of critical infrastructure and energy systems
• Expansion of digital and technological innovation
• Enhancement of agricultural and agro-industrial processing

According to Motazé, this reorientation is essential to create sustainable employment, stimulate private sector growth and reduce reliance on foreign aid or unsustainable debt.

Mobilizing savings and building investor confidence

Beyond sectoral focus, the minister highlighted the urgent need to activate Cameroon’s domestic savings—a largely untapped resource. He called for diversification of financial instruments and closer alignment between project developers and investors to streamline capital flows from savers to job-creating ventures.

Crucial to this effort is the restoration of trust in the financial system. Motazé stressed three pillars: regulation, transparency, and investor protection. Strengthening these would not only attract private capital but also encourage broader participation from households and businesses in financing productive activities.

A new framework for economic transformation

With the Diamond Capital Convention serving as a catalyst, Cameroon and CEMAC are now positioned to leverage capital markets as levers for inclusive growth. The Minister’s call to action is clear: transform financial resources into tangible investments in infrastructure, competitive enterprises, and sustainable jobs.

As the convention concluded, participants committed to translating this momentum into concrete policies and partnerships—setting the stage for Cameroon and CEMAC to finally unlock the full potential of their capital markets.