The Bangou agro-food plant, a strategic investment in Cameroon’s agricultural future, was officially inaugurated by Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.
This significant industrial unit, championed by META INVEST, the company behind the Denky brand, celebrated its grand opening with a distinguished assembly. In attendance were Gabriel Mbairobe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside numerous administrative officials, economic operators, and a large gathering of local residents eager to witness this pivotal moment.
Erected on a three-hectare plot generously provided by the Cameroonian State, the facility is dedicated to processing locally grown corn, potatoes, and various fruits. With an impressive annual production capacity of 5200 tons, the plant will introduce a line of five essential consumer products. Lisette Claudia Tame Soumedjong, the visionary promoter and CEO of META INVEST, envisions these products reaching all 360 districts across Cameroon, extending into the sub-region, and ultimately penetrating the vast continental market facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA/ZLECAf). This ambitious venture is projected to create over 100 direct jobs and approximately 450 indirect employment opportunities.
Lisette Claudia Tame Soumedjong, the Administrator and CEO of META INVEST, brings a wealth of experience to this new endeavor. Her impressive track record includes the inauguration of a cocoa processing plant in Mbankomo, near Yaoundé, on January 15, 2025, under the banner of Africa Processing Company. This was followed by another facility in Dimako, located in the East Region, which opened its doors on November 28 of the same year.
Addressing the attendees, the Minister of Commerce emphasized the broader significance of the project. He stated, “This operation, much like its predecessors, perfectly aligns with our nation’s structural economic transformation policy, as directed by His Excellency President Paul Biya. This policy is fundamentally rooted in the industrialization of Cameroon, achieved through, among other avenues, the local processing and value addition of our raw materials, particularly agricultural produce.” The Minister further highlighted that this new industrial unit contributes both to the import-substitution strategy and the thoughtful territorial development, two core priorities championed by the Head of State.
Minister Mbarga Atangana also underscored the vital role of this industrial asset within the framework of the AfCFTA. He noted that Africa, with its 1.3 billion inhabitants, represents a unified, borderless market, positioning it just behind China and India, and significantly ahead of economic blocs like the European Union or the United States. Consequently, this Bangou facility will enable its products to be distributed and consumed throughout Africa and beyond.
Reflecting on the comprehensive benefits of this initiative, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana articulated that META INVEST’s project is a wellspring of opportunities. These include fostering regional agricultural production in line with the President’s vision for second-generation agriculture, generating employment for young people to combat rural exodus and unemployment, providing training in new and more rewarding vocations, promoting wealth distribution in accordance with the trickle-down theory, facilitating the capture of niche markets, and elevating the prestige of the “Made in Cameroon” label.