Speaker, British High Commissioner have discussed investment, youth employment and climate cooperation.
Expanding areas of bilateral engagement were at the heart of discussions between the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt Hon Theodore Datouo, and the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, His Excellency Matthew Woods.
The audience, which took place on June 15 at the National Assembly, marked the British diplomat’s first official visit to the Speaker since his election and served as an opportunity for both parties to reaffirm their commitment to deepening relations between Cameroon and the United Kingdom.
Discussions focused on consolidating a partnership built on longstanding historical ties and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in areas of shared interest. Both officials underscored the importance of revitalising bilateral relations through strengthened parliamentary engagement and increased economic collaboration.
During the meeting, the British High Commissioner commended the Speaker’s address at the opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the 2026 legislative year. He particularly praised the emphasis placed on parliamentary oversight, governance reforms, the mining sector and land tenure issues, describing them as critical areas for Cameroon’s development.
Speaker Datouo highlighted the need for greater organisation and transparency within the mining sector, in line with the vision of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, while encouraging increased British investment in strategic sectors such as infrastructure and finance. The British diplomat noted the contribution of British enterprises to economic activity and job creation, particularly in the Adamawa Region, and expressed readiness to support small and medium-sized enterprises as well as future investment opportunities. Youth employment also featured prominently in the exchanges, with both parties identifying it as a major development priority. They stressed the need to create more opportunities for young entrepreneurs and to strengthen cooperation in industrialisation, particularly in the processing and transformation of cocoa and coffee.
On environmental issues, the two officials underscored the urgency of addressing climate change and called for increased financing mechanisms to support conservation efforts in the Congo Basin.
Claudette Chin
