Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, is currently leading discussions at the Yaounde Congress Centre for the High-Level Conference on the Cotton Partnership -PPC.

This major international event taking place in Yaounde is organized by the World Trade Organization – WTO in collaboration with key global bodies, including UNIDO, the International Trade Centre, and the International Labour Organization – ILO.

By bringing together government ministers, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders, the conference serves as a strategic platform to rethink the role of cotton in the global economy and unlock new investment opportunities across West and Central Africa.

A unique aspect of this year’s summit is the high-profile participation of Samuel Eto’o, President of the Cameroon Football Federation – FECAFOOT. His presence highlights a deliberate effort to bridge the gap between industrial trade and the sports world, specifically focusing on youth empowerment. A key highlight of the proceedings is the presentation of FIFA’s “Football for Schools” initiative, which Eto’o champions as a vehicle for social development.

This intersection of sports and commerce aims to demonstrate how sustainable investments in the textile sector can directly benefit the next generation of African athletes and entrepreneurs.

The conference agenda is packed with strategic themes, including the official launch of the PPC investment platform and sessions dedicated to the promotion of fashion and textile-apparel entrepreneurs. Participants are exploring ways to modernize the cotton value chain, ensuring that African nations move beyond the export of raw materials toward high-value manufacturing.

By focusing on the local transformation of textiles, the partnership seeks to create a more resilient economic framework that supports both large-scale industrial growth and small-scale creative enterprises in the fashion industry.​Ultimately, the Yaoundé summit is a call to action for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By mobilizing innovative partnerships between global organizations like the WTO and FIFA, the initiative aims to accelerate the industrialization of the cotton sector throughout the region.

As Minister Mbarga Atangana and other stakeholders conclude these high-level talks, the expectation is a clear roadmap for investment that will turn African cotton into a global powerhouse for clothing and textiles, fueled by the energy of the continent’s youth and the influence of global sport.