The 5th Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit – CTIS opened in London on April 20, 2026, with a high-level Cameroonian delegation led by H.E. Felix Mbayu, Minister Delegate in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth.
The summit, which gathered leaders from 56 member nations, focused on transforming global trade challenges into growth opportunities.
Key speakers, including Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Lord Marland, underscored the importance of collective resilience and strategic investment in an increasingly fragmented global market.
During a dedicated “Invest in Cameroon” plenary session, Minister Mbayu highlighted the nation’s unique “bijural and bicultural” heritage as a primary asset for international investors. He emphasized Cameroon’s strategic position as a geographical and economic bridge connecting West and Central Africa.
The session featured insights from a diverse panel, including Mr. Paul Tasong, Minister Delegate for Economy, and Dr. Diane Acha-Morfaw of the Investment Promotion Agency, all of whom presented Cameroon as a diversified economic engine ready for increased foreign direct investment.
Addressing the current shifts in global commerce, Minister Mbayu advocated for a move toward “pluriregional frameworks.” He argued that as traditional multilateral mechanisms struggle, platforms like the Commonwealth and the African Continental Free Trade Area – AfCFTA are essential for turning fragmented markets into coordinated trading spaces.
This approach is intended to boost trade volumes and foster sustainable economic growth across member states by leveraging regional synergies and integrated supply chains.
A significant milestone of the summit was the formal signing of a Cooperation Agreement between Minister Mbayu and Lord Marland. This legal pact officially establishes the CWEIC Regional Hub Office for Cameroon, Gabon, Togo, and Sierra Leone.
Based in Cameroon, this hub is set to play a pivotal role in supporting government efforts to drive trade and investment. The summit concluded on April 21, 2026, leaving Cameroon positioned as a central player in the Commonwealth’s strategy to enhance intra-African trade and global economic partnership.
