RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/G/187 
27 August 2007 
 
 (07-3505) 
Trade Policy Review Body Original:   French 
  
 
   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
Report by 
 
CAMEROON 
 
   
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishi ng the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), the policy statement by Cameroon is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circ ulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Cameroon. Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 3 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
  Page 
INTRODUCTION 5 
I. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CAMEROON'S ECONOMY 5 
II. SOME RESULTS OF THE REFORMS UNDERTAKEN 6 
(1) S TRUCTURAL REFORMS  6 
(a) In the area of trade 6 
(b) Legal and institutional business framework 6 
(2) S ECTORAL REFORMS  8 
(a) Financial sector 8 (b) Taxation 8 
(c) State-owned companies 9 
(d) SME/SMI and cottage industry sector 10 (e) Forestry and environmental sector 10 
(f) Energy and water 10 
(g) Telecommunications 10 (h) Transport 10 
III. PROSPECTS FOR CAMEROON'S ECONOMY 10 
(1) S
ECTORAL POLICIES  11 
(a) Trade 11 
(b) Rural sector 12 
(c) Road infrastructure 12 (d) Energy sector 13 
(e) Social sectors 13 
(2) S
TRUCTURAL REFORMS  14 
IV. INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS 16 
(1) T RADE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE WTO 16 
(2) N EGOTIATION OF ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS (EPA S) 17 
APPENDIX TABLES 19 
  
 
  Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
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INTRODUCTION 
1. Since its last WTO Trade Policy Review in 2001, Cameroon has continued with its economic 
and social reforms (stabilization of the macroeconom ic framework and structural reforms), with the 
support of the international financial community. 
2. In 2003, for example, the Government of Ca meroon adopted a Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Declaration.  Cameroon is currently implementing the triennial programme for the period 1 July 2005 
to 30 June 2008, which was agreed with the IM F and is supported by th e Poverty Reduction and 
Growth Facility (PGRF). 
3. It was against this background that on 28 April 2006 Cameroon reached the completion point 
of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) and, at the same time, qualified for the 
Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).  In th e long term, reaching the completion point of the 
HIPC Initiative, which is already having a ta ngible impact, could secure for Cameroon some 
CFAF 2,544 billion by way of bilateral and multilate ral debt remission, giving the country a sound 
basis from which to tackle the economic and social  challenges it faces.  This will involve promoting 
and enhancing the viability of public finances a nd accelerating economic growth, particularly by 
developing infrastructure, boosti ng and diversifying exports and improving the business climate and 
competitiveness. 
I. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CAMEROON'S ECONOMY 
4. The growth rates in Cameroon's economy are positive but remain inadequate to combat 
poverty more effectively. 
5. Cameroon's main trading partners are:  France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium, China, 
the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. 
6. Exports and imports are growing, and Cameroon' s main exports are:  oil, wood, bananas, 
coffee, cotton and cocoa.  Oil exports significantly in fluence the trade balance, which is in structural 
deficit. 
7. Domestic production has clearly suffered from both active and unfair competition from 
finished products originating in countries with lower production costs, or as a result of smuggling. 
8. The reasons for the situation described above ar e to be found in the structure of Cameroon's 
foreign trade.  Cameroon in fact imports manuf actured products, petroleu m oils and substantial 
quantities of cereals. 
9. Domestic industry's production costs remain high, with the result that its products are not very 
competitive.  It is therefore essential to repair  and upgrade the often obsolete production facilities, 
particularly with a view to the conclusion of Economic Partnership Agreem ents (EPAs) with the 
European Union by 31 December 2007. 
10. Cameroon is a predominantly agricultural country , but almost all of its traditional production 
and export sectors are static, if not in decline. 
11. Moreover, almost all traditional products are exported unprocessed, with insufficient added 
value.  This is the result of agricultural prac tices which remain small- scale, lacking adequate 
mechanization, using little fertiliser and with limited financial resources. WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 6 
 
 
  II. SOME RESULTS OF THE REFORMS UNDERTAKEN 
(1) STRUCTURAL REFORMS  
12. In its endeavour permanently to establish an effective and more competitive market economy, 
the Government has continued to a dopt measures designed to reform its  trade policy, further liberalize 
economic activities and enhance its dialogue and partne rship with the private sector and civil society 
through joint management of the economy, as well  as to establish a compet itive environment in 
various sectors. 
(a) In the area of trade 
13. The following general points are worthy of note: 
• Elimination of quantitative restrictions  on imports, licences and other import and 
export authorizations; 
• freedom to fix prices and profit margin s in accordance with market forces; 
• prevention and suppression of anti-competitive trade practices; 
• introduction of measures designed to guarant ee fairness in commercial transactions, in 
particular through metrology controls, a crackdown on discriminatory sales, refusal to sell, holding of stocks for speculative purposes and conditional sales; 
• implementation of legislation on dumping and competition; 
• reorganization of tax and customs regim es to make them more effective and 
consistent with the subregional progra mme adopted within the Central African 
Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC); 
• implementation, as of January 2007, of the computerized system of customs 
administration (ASYCUDA) and the installati on of a container scanner at the port of 
Douala, the main port through which goods enter the country; 
• establishment in Douala of the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations (GUCE) 
and introduction of the single electronic window, which is designed substantially to 
reduce delays in import and export procedures. 
(b) Legal and institutional business framework 
14. Since the 1990s, Cameroon has returned to the pa th of sound, sustained and lasting growth, 
having embarked on far-reaching changes in the lega l system which have made it possible to put in 
place a legislative and regulatory framework that is  liberal, attractive and geared to promoting an 
environment of competition and competitiveness. 
15. In 2002, the Government secured adoption of  the Investment Charter by the National 
Assembly.  The Charter is largely based on the one adopted by the CEMAC States in 1999.  The 
sectoral machinery for its implementation, in partic ular the Investment Promotion Agency, the Export 
Promotion Agency and the National Agency for Standa rds and Quality have still to be put in place.  Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 7 
 
 
The Charter substantially strengthens the advant ages and legal guarantees accorded to companies 
wishing to invest in Cameroon. 
16. As regards legal guarantees specifically, Camer oon is a party to both bilateral and multilateral 
investment guarantee agreements, including, in particular: 
• The New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral 
Awards, concluded under the auspices of the United Nations; 
• the Washington Convention establishing the In ternational Centre for Settlement of 
Investment Disputes (ICSID); 
• the Seoul Convention establishing the Mu ltilateral Investment Guarantee Agency 
(MIGA), which is designed to guarantee non-commercial risks; 
• the OHADA Treaty, pursuant to which modern, straightforward legal rules based on 
international practice have been drawn up in the field of business law. 
17. As a result of its membership of OHADA, Ca meroon also has available to it arbitral 
machinery – of both an ad hoc and an institutional nature – based on the most effective international 
instruments, such as the 1985 Model Law on Inte rnational Commercial Arbitration of the United 
Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the 1998 Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. 
18. Finally, Cameroon is a party to the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement of 23 June 2000 which 
provides for arbitration machinery for the settlement  of disputes between the African, Caribbean and 
Pacific States (ACP) and contractors, suppliers or providers of services, linked to European 
Development Fund (EDF) funding. 
19. As regards the legal system, the ongoing work of  recent years has included implementation of 
the following measures: 
(i) Adoption of the Criminal Code, and its pub lication on the Government's web site; 
(ii) strengthening of the bench court system in commercial proceedings; 
(iii) translation into English and publica tion in the Official Journal of the 
OHADA uniform acts; 
(iv) increased oversight of the courts; 
(v) adoption in parliament of laws concerni ng the administration of justice and the 
organization of the Supreme Court and other courts and tribunals; 
(vi) in addition, the Audit Court has been set up and has begun its work. 
20. The adoption of this array of legal instrume nts reflects the determination of the public 
authorities to modernize further the legal and ins titutional business framework, in order to attract 
investment in an increasingly secure environment. WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 8 
 
 
  (2) SECTORAL REFORMS  
(a) Financial sector 
21. The Government has taken measures to strengthen th e financial sector.  In this connection, it 
should be noted that the Douala Stoc k Exchange began operations in 2006. 
22. As regards the Crédit Foncier  (Land Bank), with the support of the Central African Banking 
Commission (COBAC), the Government has embarked on the organization of staffing and of the accounting and financial systems.  On that basis, a number of measures have been taken internally, 
including the introduction of management and pe rformance indicators which have been widely 
disseminated at both branch and directorate leve l;  the preparation of management and audit 
procedure manuals;  and the refocusing of activit ies by prohibiting the opening of new current 
accounts and the granting of overdraft facilities. 
23. In the microfinance sector, following the measu res taken in late December 2005 to secure 
strict implementation of the rules of establishment for institutions in the sector, the authorities took 
the following steps to im prove their supervision: 
 (i) Increase in the number of inspections  to ensure that certain microfinance 
institutions (MFIs) not authorized to operate were actually closed down; 
  (ii) expedited review of the files concerning networks of village ba nks to regularize their 
operations;  and 
 
 (iii) initiation of the process of evaluating the net worth and financial viability of the 
508 MFIs authorized to operate
. 
 
(b) Taxation 
24. The reform of 1 January 2004 is significant here.  It led, for example, to the proportional tax 
and the progressive surtax being amalgamated to fo rm a single tax:  the personal income tax (IRPP), 
which is based on net overall income. 
25. The net overall income corresponds to net income in the following categories: 
 (i) Salaries, wages, pensions and annuities; 
  (ii) income from fixed capital;  
 (iii) property income; 
  (iv) profits from craft, indus trial and commercial activities; 
  (v) profits from farming; 
 
 (vi) profits from non-commercial and equivalent professions.  26. The same applies to members of civil-law part nerships (natural persons), joint ventures and 
de facto partnerships which are not liable to company tax. Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 9 
 
 
(c) State-owned companies 
27. Reform of State-owned companies has conti nued with the assistance of the World Bank and 
the International Finance Corporation. 
28. Major progress has been achieved in the pro cess of privatizing SNEC (the national urban 
water utility), both as a result of the creation of  CAMWATER, a State holding company that will 
ensure that the means of production are maintained  and upgraded, and by placing the public drinking 
water service under a lease management contract.  The invitation to tender for the lease management 
contract under a public-private partners hip was issued in February 2007. 
29. The process of demerging – winding up – and privatizing CAMAIR, a measure decided in 
December 2005, has continued with the creation, in 2006, of the Cameroon Airlines Corporation, a 
government-owned corporation, the majority of th e shares in which will shortly be reassigned to a 
strategic partner.  In April 2007, the Government wa s obliged to declare unsuccessful the invitation to 
tender that had been issued, as the negotiations with the provisional successful bidder failed to 
produce a satisfactory bid.  In addition, the author ities have appointed a liquidator, which has already 
begun work. 
30. The invitation to tender for the privatization of  CAMTEL was issued in June 2006.  It should 
result in the transfer of the majority of shares in  that company to a major sector operator with the 
capital base and technical capacities essential for the modernization of telecommunications in 
Cameroon and the implementation of the relevant sectoral strategy. 
31. Moreover, the Government has set in place a restructuring plan for CAMPOST.  Under the 
plan, October 2006 saw the recruitment of a manage ment team which took over management of the 
company in February 2007, once the management cont ract had been signed.  One of the management 
team's main responsibilities is to carry out preparator y work for the establishment of a subsidiary that 
will be responsible for CAMPOST's financial servi ces.  In order to secure the reconstitution of 
CAMPOST's assets, the Government has: 
(i) Opened an escrow account with the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) to hold 
the transfers from CAMPOST made in implem entation of the internal debt settlement 
plan; 
(ii) entrusted financial superv ision of CAMPOST to the services of the Ministry of the 
Economy and Finance responsible for mon itoring non-banking fina ncial institutions, 
which will submit a quarter ly supervision report. 
32. As regards State-owned hotels, a call for expr essions of interest was launched to recruit a 
consultant who will be responsible for drawing up an inventory of these facilities with a view to their 
privatization. 
33. In parallel, the restructuring programme for other State-owned companies and public 
administrative bodies – which is primarily designed to reduce the financial burden they place on the 
national budget and steer them back to th eir fundamental responsibilities – continued, inter alia , 
through the reorganization of the Special Counc il Support Fund (FEICOM) and the provision of 
support for the resumption of the activities of  the Cocoa Development Company (SODECAO). WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 10 
 
 
  (d) SME-SMI and cottage industry sector 
34. Government policy on supervision of SME-SM Is and cottage industries has continued, 
including the launch of phase one of the proposed census of SMEs and the commencement of studies 
reviewing the possibility of creating handicrafts villages. 
(e) Forestry and environmental sector 
35. A Sectoral Forest and Environment Programme (PSFE) was adopted with donor support and 
is now up and running. 
(f) Energy and water 
36. The Government has adopted a National En ergy Action Plan for Poverty Reduction 
(PANERP) to promote access to basic energy services fo r the great majority of the population, with a 
view to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.   Similarly, a long-term development plan for 
the electricity sector is in the process of being finalized.  The aim here is to facilitate, by 2030, a substantial increase in the energy supply by some  10,000 megawatts, to provide for both population 
growth and economic development.  The plan funda mentally involves the implementation of several 
large-scale projects in the sector. 
(g) Telecommunications 
37. The Special Telecommunications Fund has been set up.  Designed to support investment 
policy in this strategic sector, this instrument w ill enable the Government to provide effective funding 
for the universal telecommunications service, and to develop telecommunications in a consistent 
manner throughout the national territory.  Moreover,  the public authorities have already put into 
operation the first multi-purpose community telecentres in certain rural areas. 
(h) Transport 
38. In the field of air transport, the Air Transpor t Safety and Security Project has been put in 
place.  The Government's aim, following the liberaliz ation of this sector, is to modernize civil aviation 
and bring it into line with international safety standards. 
39. As regards land transport, the policy that has b een introduced is designed to ensure the safety 
of the vehicle pool and the ongoing financing of infr astructure maintenance.  In the port subsector, 
measures have been taken to liberalize and simplify procedures at the Port of Douala. 
III. PROSPECTS FOR CAMEROON'S ECONOMY 
40. The Government of Cameroon will further pursu e structural reforms to facilitate private 
sector operations and to promote investment and gr owth.  This process requires measures to improve 
the transparency of public finance and to curtail the losses of State-owned companies and improve the 
services they provide.  To reduce the obstacles to gr owth and improve the business climate, efforts 
will be ongoing to extend financia l intermediation, promote good governance, update infrastructure, 
further improve the regulatory framework in the vital sectors of the economy (in particular, energy, transport and forests) and encourage regi onal integration and international trade. Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 11 
 
 
(1) SECTORAL POLICIES  
41. The authorities will continue to implement sectoral strategies in the areas of rural 
development, building and public works, energy, i ndustry, trade and social sectors.  All of those 
strategies are – or will be – accompanied by a medium-term expenditure framework (CDMT). 
(a) Trade 
42. In internal trade, the Government will finalize and implement, in collaboration with the 
private sector and civil society, an intern al trade development strategy based on: 
(i) Control of distribution channels and the training/professionalization of the sector; 
(ii) effective implementation of sectoral trade facilitation policies (by reducing road 
checks, harmonizing rules and facilitating procedures etc); 
(iii) improved consumer protection; 
(iv) cracking down on quality fraud and smuggling.  At the same time, the authorities 
intend to continue implementing measures to combat smuggling, forgery, illegal price rises and shortages artificially e ngineered for speculative purposes. 
43. As regards external trade, the Government's  strategy involves implementing the rules and 
taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by Cameroon's membership of subregional and 
international bodies such as:  the Central African  Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the 
Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS/CEEAC), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization of the Islamic Conf erence (OIC).  The authorities will also take 
advantage of the fact that Cameroon is a contrac ting party to the Cotonou Agreement of June 2000 
and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 
44. In the area of regional integration, the Govern ment will pursue regional negotiations with its 
partners within CEMAC, with a view to furthe r liberalizing trade in accordance with multilateral 
principles.  To that end, it will endeavour to  honour in full community commitments on the 
facilitation of transport and liberalization of trade, in particular, negotiation on the lowering of and 
compliance with the common external tariff (CET) , and to refrain from introducing supplementary 
import taxes and duties.  It fu rther intends applying the comm on rules of origin, improving 
employment market integration and promoting mutual investment. 
45. More specifically, measures to boost and dive rsify exports will be taken in the following 
areas: 
• Promotion of the processing of certain products (cotton, fruit etc); 
• consolidating traditional commercial partnerships; 
• identifying new export markets for new production chains that are potentially 
rewarding for producers (white pepper, tea,  pineapples, honey, ginger, dried fruits, 
vanilla, flowers etc); 
• winning new markets and promoting a ge nuine and standard-setting 'Cameroon 
brand'. WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 12 
 
 
  46. Exports of so-called ethnic products will be expanded, specifically in the direction of 
Cameroonians living abroad.  Particular attention w ill be paid to the devel opment of new and modern 
forms of trade such as:  trade in services, fair trad e, trade in organically produced products and trade 
in products from sustainable agriculture. 
(b) Rural sector 
47. The rural sector continues to be the dominant sector in Cameroon's economy, in terms of both 
its contribution to growth and its potential for reduci ng poverty.  To enable the rural sector to play its 
proper part in the country's economic  and social development, the au thorities have adopted – and have 
been implementing since 2006 – a rural developmen t strategy that covers agriculture, livestock 
breeding, fisheries and forestry. 
48. More specifically, in relation to agriculture, the focus will be on supporting private operators 
with a view to doubling agricultural production by 2015, including by: 
• Facilitating access to the land fo r young people in particular; 
• facilitating access to credit to encourage mi crofinance institutions, and creating an 
agricultural bank whose facilities will be available to all categories of agricultural operator; 
• starting cocoa and coffee cultivation development funds. 
49. In relation to livestock and fisheries, the strate gy will continue to be based on improving the 
productivity and competitiveness of the production chains that are recognized as being profitable, including ruminants, short-cycle livestock breeding, semi-intensive livestock breeding, non-conventional livestock breeding, fisheries and commer cial fish-farming.  As regards forestry, action 
will focus on the effectiveness of the Sectoral Forest and Environment Programme (PSFE). 
(c) Road infrastructure 
50. Given the importance of roads in the pro cess of the country's economic and social 
development, the Government's policy in this area,  implemented as part of the building and public 
works strategy, hinges on: 
(i) Extending the road network, taking account  of the requirements of industrialization 
and regional integration policies, service hubs  and the need to redeploy agricultural 
production; 
(ii) rehabilitating the sections of the road network that are in a poor state of repair, and 
regularly maintaining the whole of the network to keep it up to standard; 
(iii) conducting feasibility studies on the construction of new infrastructure
. 
51. More specifically, major construction work  will continue, and be completed, on 
infrastructure, including: 
• Rehabilitation of the Wouri bridge, and re newing the urban road system in Yaoundé 
and Douala; Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 13 
 
 
• building permanent links between Cameroon and the CEMAC countries, as well as 
between Cameroon and Nigeria; 
• building a second bridge over the River Wouri; 
• construction of a motorway between Ya oundé and Douala;  construction of a 
motorway ring road around the city of Douala, with a junction at Limbe where the 
port facility will be transformed as a result of the relocation of Cameroon's industrial 
and naval shipyard. 
(d) Energy sector 
52. There is still a substantial shortfall in electri city supply.  To remedy this problem, the 
Government intends finalizing and implementing the medium- and long-term energy plan.  The plan 
is designed to provide electricity in sufficient qua ntities, of good quality and at a lower cost to 
households, social services and industry. 
53. In the medium term, the industrial sector is re garded as pivotal in securing growth to reduce 
poverty.  Consequently, with a view to the entr y into force, in 2008, of the EU-ACP economic 
partnership agreements, one consequence of whic h will be to dismantle customs barriers, the 
authorities are relying on being able to offer business in Cameroon an attractive framework in order to 
boost both levels of investment and competitiveness. 
(e) Social sectors 
54. The authorities will continue to implement sectoral  strategies for education, health and social 
development. 
55. In the area of health , measures will focus both on improving the provision of care and 
services and on reinforcing the healthcare system.  In terms of improving the provision of care and 
services chiefly, the aim will be: 
• To take further measures to combat in fectious and parasitic diseases, notably 
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, as  well as non-transmittable conditions such as 
diabetes, hypertension and cancer; 
• to continue to improve access to essential generic drugs in health centres, at 
subsidized prices. 
56. In the area of education , the main focus will be on continuing to expand infrastructure and 
increase teaching staff, by build ing new classrooms and recruiting teachers at both nursery and 
primary, and secondary school level.  In higher e ducation, measures will be taken in the following 
three sectors: 
• The academic sector, by transition to the LMD (First Degree-Masters-Doctorate) 
system, bringing Cameroon's universities into line with that international standard; 
• infrastructure, by building new academic in frastructure to cope with the huge increase 
in qualified young people wishing to go on to higher education; WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 14 
 
 
  • the university sector, particularly in relation to accommodation facilities and the 
provision of assistance to students. 
57. In the other social sectors , there will be a particular focus on promoting employment, low-
cost housing and the socio economic integration of  disadvantaged persons.  In the field of 
employment, the authorities intend: 
• Finalizing and implementing the national policy document on employment; 
• drawing up an employment plan for young people, women, the disabled, vulnerable 
groups and the long-term unemployed.  As far as low-cost housing is concerned, the main thrust will be to continue buildi ng low-cost housing units in Yaoundé and 
Douala. 
58. In regard to the socio economic integration of  disadvantaged persons, it is the Government's 
intention: 
• To finalize and implement the programmes fo r the protection of children experiencing 
difficulties; 
• to continue the policy of combating excl usion by granting public assistance and 
subsidies to institutions that care for the needy, the elderly and marginal groups. 
(2) S
TRUCTURAL REFORMS  
59. Cameroon will pursue and, indeed, expedite reforms in relation to  public finances, 
State-owned companies, governance and the financial sector. 
60. In the area of public finance , in order to boost non-oil revenues, the action to be undertaken 
will include the following administrative measures: 
• Improving the collection of personal inco me tax from individuals within the 
jurisdiction of tax centres for medium-sized companies set up in Yaoundé and Douala; 
• stepping up efforts to combat fraud and smuggling, by completing the computer link 
between the Directorate-General of Taxes and the Directorate-General of Customs; 
• reducing the number of tax and customs exemptions; 
• abolishing minimum administrative values for all imported goods; 
• improving VAT administration; 
• implementation by the Government of the recommendations of the Tax Commission 
recently set up to reduce obstacles to gr owth and improve the business climate. 
61. To improve the quality of expenditure , the planned measures will focus on: 
(i) Continuing to consolidate the payroll database; Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 15 
 
 
(ii) the installation of new payroll software  to replace ANTILOPE, which can no longer 
be guaranteed reliable and effective; 
(iii) improving take-up capacity for resour ces earmarked for public investment, 
particularly resources released as a result of debt relief; 
(iv) guaranteeing transparency in the award of public contracts and compliance with the 
requisite procedures. 
62. As far as State-owned companies are concerned , there will be a redoubling of efforts to 
complete the privatization of CAMAIR, CAMTEL a nd the operations of the Cameroon Development 
Corporation (CDC) in the hevea and oil-palm producti on sector, as well as to finalize the SNEC lease 
management contract in the context of a public-p rivate partnership.  The process of privatizing 
SODECOTON will also be set in motion.  It is plan ned to recruit a consultant to prepare a study on 
cotton production and define the preliminary issues to  be tackled prior to privatizing SODECOTON. 
63. In the financial sector , the Government intends: 
(i) Creating CAMPOST's financial subsidiary on the basis of the conditions laid down 
by COBAC; 
(ii) rehabilitating the microfinance sector and restructuring the Crédit Foncier  in 
accordance with the plan agr eed with COBAC, so that the institution refocuses on the 
financing of low-cost housing; 
(iii) implementing the action plan for the restructuring of SONARA to make that body 
more competitive. 
64. In the area of governance , the authorities will continue to implement the priority action plan 
for reform of the judicial system.  They will also continue to implement phase II of the priority action 
plan for the national governance programme. 
65. To sum up, being aware that the current rate of growth is insufficient to generate the resources 
of its own needed to attain the objectives set out in the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the 
Millennium Development Goals, the Government  has begun the process of revising the PRSP of 
April 2003, with a view to producing a second-gene ration PRSP in 2007.  Currently being drawn up, 
the PRSP will cover a five-year period  (2008-2012) and will be based on: 
(i) Consolidating the macroeconomic framework and promoting governance; 
(ii) promoting strong growth th at will generate employment; 
(iii) mobilizing and encouraging human resour ces.  The primary aim must be to help 
achieve the objectives of Cameroon's deve lopment vision.  For the next decade 
(2008-2017), those objectives will be: 
• To double per capita income; 
• to reduce inequalities; 
• to reduce poverty. WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
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  IV. INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS 
66. The Cameroonian authorities are aware that in ternational trade can play a major role in 
fostering development and combating poverty.  Cameroon is therefore actively engaged in the 
negotiations within the WTO and, in the contex t of the Doha Development Round and the economic 
partnership agreements with the EU, within  the group of Central African countries. 
(1) TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE WTO 
67. Cameroon has many expectations regardi ng the Doha Round of negotiations.  The 
Government is confident that the progress achieve d at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference will not 
be called into question when the negotiations resu me, particularly in relation to agriculture, the 
sectoral initiative on cotton (Cameroon being franco phone Africa's third largest cotton producer) and 
aid for trade. 
68. Cameroon is ready and willing to work with the other WTO Member States to contribute to 
the process of resuming and finalizing the ne gotiations on the Doha Development Agenda. 
69. Cameroon expects those negotiations to be resume d in a way that reflects the spirit of Doha, 
that is to say by taking into account the interests of the developing countries, through: 
 (i) Improved market access for their products; 
  (ii) balanced rules;   (iii) implementation of targeted programmes of technical assistance and capacity-building, 
backed by sustainable funding.  The aim he re is to ensure that the developing 
countries secure a share of growth in worl d trade commensurate with their economic 
development needs.  The concept of development must fully embrace the concept of special and differential treatment, the corner stone of the Doha structure.  In that 
connection, the current round should produce a positive decision that takes account of the interests of those developing countries that do not fall into the category of least 
developed countries (LDCs), but cannot be categorized as emerging countries. 
 70. Cameroon also accords a great deal of importance to the issue of aid for trade which should, 
in particular: 
 (i) Take the form of predictable and sustainable additional resources; 
 
 (ii) be provided in the form of grants and complement but not replace the development 
pledges entered into by developed countries; 
  (iii) ensure that the general concept of 'capac ity-building' covers a broader field, including 
both basic infrastructure and trade-rela ted infrastructure, supply issues and 
adjustment costs; 
  (iv) be free of any form of conditionality, as this would stand in the way of its use by the 
countries for which it is intended. 
 Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
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71. The question of trade preferences is also impor tant for Cameroon, particularly long-standing 
trade preferences, such as those applying to ba nanas.  Those preferences, which have so far 
underpinned the development of African countries,  cannot be dismantled until there has been a 
transitional period of equivalent duration. 
72. As far as NAMA (non-agricultural market access) is concerned, Cameroon supports: 
 (i) The phasing out of tariff peaks, tariff escalation and non-tariff barriers; 
  (ii) a degree of protection for the fledgling industries of the developing countries.  (2) N
EGOTIATION OF ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS (EPA S) 
73. Cameroon is in the process of negotiating an ec onomic partnership agreement with the EU in 
the framework of the Central African region.  The countries involved in the negotiations are:  Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic (C AR), Chad, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo (D RC) and Sao Tomé and Principe. 
74. Cameroon is persuaded that the EPAs should be incorporated into  the development policies of 
the ACP countries and regions and fully integrat ed into the European Union's development 
cooperation policies.  The EPAs should promote sustainable development, the gradual and 
harmonious integration of the Central African ec onomies into the world economy and the eradication 
of poverty. 
75. More particularly, the EPAs should ensure: 
• Promotion of lasting economic growth; 
• expansion of productive and supply capacity; 
• encouragement of the structural transformation of the ACP economies, their 
diversification and support for subregional integration.  That will require both the 
establishment of a proper period of tran sition and asymmetry compatible with 
WTO rules, and genuine attention to the development dimension. 
76. Regardless of how the cross-cutting nature of the development dimension is interpreted, it 
must, of necessity, include the following aspects: 
 (i) Reinforcement of overall productive capacity; 
  (ii) reinforcement of export capacity;   (iii) capacity to respond to market requirements;  
 (iv) capacity to engage in commercial governance; 
  (v) capacity to mobilize development resources, including foreign direct 
investment (FDI). 
 
77. It is important to mention that Cameroon needs additional resources to cover EPA-related 
adjustment and development costs.  This shoul d also make it possible to ensure that the WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 18 
 
 
  EDF resources currently available are not dive rted from the development priorities of the 
ACP countries and regions. 
78. As regards the additional funding and re levant procedures, Cameroon supports: 
 (i) The idea of setting up Regional EPA Adjustment Funds (FORAPE) administered by 
the regional economic communities themselves, in order to meet the adjustment 
needs of the individual regions; 
  (ii) the view that the EU Member States should undertake to channel the aid funds in a 
coordinated manner through the financial ins titutions for regional development, such 
as the African Development Bank (ADB). 
 79. In the interests of efficiency, Cameroon woul d like to see the EU avoid waiting until the year 
2010 to achieve the target of €2 billion for aid for trade, since the EPAs are supposed to enter into 
force on 1 January 2008. 
80. In the interests of predictability and transparen cy, it will also be necessary to clarify how both 
the European Commission and the Member States – and indeed the other donors – will contribute to 
the different funds that are to be established. 
81. Again, in terms of strengthening EU inte rvention, Cameroon would like to see the EU 
increase its support to those countries that are not currently eligible for the budget support mechanism, to allow them to m eet the eligibility criteria.  Cameroon would also like to see the 
creation of a budget heading for EPA adjustment in  the context of the budget support assistance 
modality. 
82. Finally, Cameroon wishes to see the introduction of an effective monitoring mechanism that 
operates within the general framework of EU-A CP relations, and also at regional level. 
83. In the circumstances described above, the EPAs would then provide genuine instruments of 
development for the ACP negotiating countries. Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 19 
 
 
APPENDIX TABLES 
 
 
Table 1:  Development of certain Cameroonian economic indicators 
 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
Current GDP, production approach (CFAF billion) 6, 612.39 7,061.44 7, 583.08 7,916.96 8, 333.88 8,781.03 
GDP in volume terms, production approach 
(base 100 = 2000) 6,612.39 6,910.89 7,187.95 7,477.69 7,754.51 7,927.79 
GDP per capita (CFAF thousand) 432 439 445 453 461 461 
GDP growth rate 4.2 4.5 4.0 4.0 3.7 2.2 
Inflation rate 3.2 2.8 2.8 0.6 0.3 2 
Current account deficit 2.3 -0.6 -2.9 1.4 0.1 3.3 
Source : National Institute of Statistics and Ministry of Econom y and Finance (MINEFI), Dir ectorate of Economic Affairs 
(DAE). 
 
 
 
  
 
 Table 2:  Trends in the trade balance 
Quantity in tonnes and values in CFAF million  
Period Jan.-Dec. 2000 Jan.-Dec. 2001 Jan.-Dec. 2002 
Quantity / Value Q V Q V Q V 
Exports 7,428,374 1,092,198 7,526,785 1,397,246 6,955,097 1,182,842 
Imports 3,512,381 905,941 4,087,776 1,205,901 4,116,155 1,375,839 
Trade balance  186,257   191,344   -19, 997 
 
Period Jan.-Dec. 2003 Jan.-Dec. 2004 Jan.-Dec. 2005 
Quantity / Value Q V Q V Q V 
Exports 6,749,588 1,318,157 6,911,840 1,256,789 6,437,021 1,509,215 
Imports 4,382,110 1,251,561 4,621,741 1,365,047 4,903,856 1,524,464 
Trade balance   66,596   -108,258   -15,249 
Source : National Institute of Sta tistics and Ministry of Economy and Fina nce (MINEFI), Direct orate of Economic 
Affairs (DAE). WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 20 
 
 
  Table 3:  Main clients  
Values in CFAF million 
2000 2001 2002 
Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) 
Italy 377,775 29.0 Italy 346,915 26.8 Spain 249,628 19.9 
France 169,460 13.0 Spain 193,224 14.9 Italy 238,053 19.0 
Chinese Taipei 144,986 11.1 France 136,655 10.5 France 161,068 12.9 
Spain 100,070 7.7 Netherlands 115,284 8.9 Netherlands 160,460 12.8 
Netherlands 95,565 7.3 Chinese Taipei 103,829 8.0 USA  84,987 6.8 
China 81,146 6.2 China 75,619 5.8 China 54,197 4.3 
Belgium Luxembourg 27,948 2.1 Belgium Luxembourg 29,126 2.2 Chad 27,001 2.2 
Great Britain 20,703 1.6 USA 26,352 2.0 Belgium Luxembourg 26,625 2.1 
USA 19,542 1.5 Great Britain 21,119 1.6 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 17,988 1.4 
Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 19,360 1.5 Congo, Dem. Rep. of 
the 19,869 1.5 Great Britain 17,892 1.4 
Congo, Dem. Rep. of 
the 17,196 1.3 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 18,218 1.4 Chinese Taipei 13,946 1.1 
Gabon 10,615 0.8 Gabon 11,477 0.9 Gabon 12,994 1.0 
Chad 7,253 0.6 Chad 8,502 0.7 Congo, Dem. Rep. of 
the 7,963 0.6 
Togo 4,894 0.4 Pakistan 2,632 0.2 Pakistan 5,498 0.4 
Benin 1,668 0.1 Togo  2,423 0.2 South Africa 2,801 0.2 
Total Selected 
countries 1,098,181 84.2 Total Selected 
countries 111,244 85.7 Total Selected 
countries 108,102 86.3 
Grand Total 1,304,614 100.0 Grand Total 1,296,721 100.0 Grand Total 1,252,866 100.0 
 
2003 2004 2005 
Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) 
Spain 284,633 21.9 Spain 223,412 17.8 Spain 357,599 23.7 
Italy 175,116 13.5 Italy 193,006 15.4 Italy 246,325 16.3 
France 139,820 10.7 France 182,681 14.5 France 183,036 12.1 
Netherlands 138,133 10.6 Netherlands 111,702 8.9 Netherlands 112,549 7.5 
USA 98,044 7.5 USA 74,682 5.9 Great Britain 70,298 4.7 
China 56,932 4.4 Great Britain 51,541 4.1 Belgium Luxembourg 60,671 4.0 
Chinese Taipei 34,256 2.6 Belgium Luxembourg 50,896 4.0 USA 58,871 3.9 
Belgium Luxembourg 32,677 2.5 China 33,134 2.6 China 36,221 2.4 
South Africa 30,863 2.4 Gabon 23,860 1.9 Togo 32,044 2.1 
Chad 26,509 2.0 Chinese Taipei 15,922 1.3 South Africa 28,837 1.9 
Gabon 24,866 1.9 Chad 14,202 1.1 Guinea 16,749 1.1 
Great Britain 24,689 1.9 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 11,547 0.9 Gabon 15,009 1.0 
Congo, Dem. Rep. of 
the 16,556 1.3 Congo, Dem. Rep. of 
the 11,043 0.9 Chinese Taipei 14,592 1.0 
Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 14,842 1.1 South Africa 10,778 0.9 Congo, Dem. Rep. of 
the 14,444 1.0 
Pakistan 7,355 0.6 Pakistan 9,732 0.8 Chad 13,865 0.9 
Total Selected 
countries 1,105,291 84.9 Total Selected 
countries 1,018,138 81.0 Total Selected 
countries 1,261,110 83.6 
Grand Total 1,318,157 100.0 Grand Total 1,256,789 100.0 Grand Total 1,509,215 100.0 
Source : National Institute of Statistics. Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 21 
 
 
Table 4:  Main suppliers 
Values in CFAF million 
2000 2001 2002 
Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) 
France 255,219 24.1 France 326,814 23.9 France 314,780 24.3 
Nigeria 203,976 19.2 Nigeria 189,559 13.9 Nigeria 139,084 10.7 
Japan 52,092 4.9 USA 106,913 7.8 USA 108,433 8.4 
Belgium Luxembourg 51,521 4.9 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 101,315 7.4 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 60,511 4.7 
USA 50,405 4.8 Belgium Luxembourg 62,367 4.6 Japan 58,691 4.5 
Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 42,973 4.1 Japan 61,726 4.5 Belgium Luxembourg 51,866 4.0 
Italy 33,436 3.2 Italy 41,371 3.0 China 46,331 3.6 
China 31,504 3.0 China 36,629 2.7 Italy 43,277 3.3 
Netherlands 25,506 2.4 Great Britain 32,310 2.4 Great Britain 41,630 3.2 
Great Britain 22,230 2.1 Equatorial Guinea 29,277 2.1 Netherlands 36,233 2.8 
Equatorial Guinea 15,297 1.4 Netherlands 24,820 1.8 Thailand 17,731 1.4 
Mauritania 8,628 0.8 Mauritania 11,443 0.8 Equatorial Guinea 12,096 0.9 
Brazil 5,466 0.5 Thailand 9,322 0.7 Brazil 11,780 0.9 
Thailand 1,952 0.2 Brazil 6,076 0.4 Mauritania 9,930 0.8 
Vietnam 37 0.0 Vietnam 844 0.1 Vietnam 183 0.0 
Total Selected 
countries 800,241 75.4 Total Selected 
countries 1,040,785 76.2 Total Selected 
countries 952,556 73.6 
Grand Total 1,060,910 100.0 Grand Total 1,366,222 100.0 Grand Total 1,294,971 100.0 
 
2003 2004 2005 
Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) Country  Value Share 
(%) 
France 227,749 18.2 France 286,769 21.0 Nigeria 396,671 26.0 
Nigeria 158,372 12.7 Nigeria 176,522 12.9 France  269,611 17.7 
Japan 70,882 5.7 Japan 87,570 6.4 China 75,796 5.0 
USA 59,316 4.7 USA 68,065 5.0 USA 70,581 4.6 
China 50,331 4.0 Belgium Luxembourg 62,439 4.6 Belgium Luxembourg 56,134 3.7 
Belgium Luxembourg 49,166 3.9 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 58,861 4.3 Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 55,121 3.6 
Germany, Fed. Rep. 
of 44,863 3.6 China 58,442 4.3 Japan 47,779 3.1 
Italy  39,485 3.2 Italy 53,255 3.9 Italy 41,247 2.7 
Netherlands 37,315 3.0 Netherlands 29,065 2.1 Brazil 37,247 2.4 
Great Britain 23,095 1.8 Thailand 28,974 2.1 Thailand 36,324 2.4 
Brazil 16,385 1.3 Great Britain 27,500 2.0 Equatorial Guinea 29,316 1.9 
Equatorial Guinea 15,270 1.2 Brazil 18,987 1.4 Netherlands 24,629 1.6 
Thailand 12,459 1.0 Equatorial Guinea 16,906 1.2 Great Britain 22,675 1.5 
Mauritania 10,968 0.9 Mauritania 14,737 1.1 Vietnam  22,486 1.5 
Vietnam 2,776 0.2 Vietnam 5,610 0.4 Mauritania  22,280 1.5 
Total Selected 
countries 818,431 65.4 Total Selected 
countries 993,701 72.8 Total Selected 
countries 1,207,895 79.2 
Grand Total 1,251,561 100.0 Grand Total 1,365,047 100.0 Grand Total 1,524,464 100.0 
Source : National Institute of Statistics. WT/TPR/G/187 Trade Policy Review 
Page 22 
 
 
  Table 5:  Main export products 
Values in CFAF million 
2000 2001 Products  
Value Share (%) Products  
Value Share (%) 
Crude petroleum oils 626,559 48.03 Crude petroleum oils 592,966 45.73 
Sawn wood  161,210 12.36 Sawn wood  162,231 12.51 
Fuels and lubricants 82,376 6.31 Raw cocoa beans 82,868 6.39 
Coffee 67,310 5.16 Raw cotton 71,837 5.54 
Raw aluminium 65,105 4.99 Fuels and lubricants 64,575 4.98 
Raw cocoa beans 51,910 3.98 Raw aluminium 61,243 4.72 
Raw cotton 48,741 3.74 Coffee 54,036 4.17 
Wood in the rough (logs) 43,390 3.33 Fresh bananas 33,897 2.61 
Fresh bananas 34,609 2.65 Cocoa paste 22,262 1.72 
Wood veneer sheets 19,832 1.52 Wood veneer sheets 19,494 1.50 
Cocoa paste 17,093 1.31 Wood in the rough (logs) 18,475 1.42 
Raw rubber 14,318 1.10 Raw rubber  14,551 1.12 
Aluminium sheet 7,455 0.57 Cement 10,432 0.80 
Total Selected products 1,239,908 95.04 Total Selected products 1,208,865 93.22 
Grand Total 1,304,614 100.00 Grand Total 1,296,721 100.00 
 
2002 2003 Products  
Value Share (%) Products  
Value Share (%) 
Crude petroleum oils 573,398 45.77 Crude petroleum oils 579,317 43.95 
Sawn wood  137,660 10.99 Sawn wood  156,925 11.90 
Raw cocoa beans 133,263 10.64 Raw cocoa beans 104,033 7.89 
Raw cotton 65,298 5.21 Fuels and lubricants 80,228 6.09 
Raw aluminium 44,513 3.55 Raw cotton 62,663 4.75 
Fuels and lubricants 42,840 3.42 Raw aluminium 47,377 3.59 
Coffee 37,123 2.96 Fresh bananas 41,269 3.13 
Fresh bananas 32,104 2.56 Coffee 40,405 3.07 
Cocoa paste 29,329 2.34 Cocoa paste 35,460 2.69 
Wood veneer sheets 19,845 1.58 Wood veneer sheets 24,712 1.87 
Wood in the rough (logs) 18,607 1.49 Raw rubber 18,774 1.42 
Raw rubber 16,003 1.28 Wood in the rough (logs) 12,119 0.92 
Cement 9,867 0.79 Preparations for soups and broths 9,158 0.69 
 Palm oil, crude or refined 7,942 0.60 
Total Selected products 1,159,849 92.58 Total Selected products 1,220,380 92.58 
Grand Total 1,252,866 100.00 Grand Total 1,318,157 100.00 
 
2004 2005 Products  
Value Share (%) Products  
Value Share (%) 
Crude petroleum oils 492,346 39.17 Crude petroleum oils 661,157 43.81 
Sawn wood 176,165 14.02 Fuels and lubricants 180,346 11.95 
Raw cocoa beans 113,248 9.01 Sawn wood 177,378 11.75 
Fuels and lubricants 109,485 8.71 Raw cocoa beans 111,042 7.36 
Raw cotton 73,146 5.82 Raw cotton 70,066 4.64 
Raw aluminium 45,348 3.61 Raw aluminium 57,827 3.83 
Coffee 38,250 3.04 Fresh bananas 35,930 2.38 
Fresh bananas 37,388 2.97 Coffee 33,358 2.21 
Wood veneer sheets 22,393 1.78 Wood veneer sheets 27,053 1.79 
Raw rubber 20,677 1.65 Raw rubber 23,549 1.56 
Cocoa paste 17,752 1.41 Cocoa paste 18,598 1.23 
Wood in the rough (logs) 13,770 1.10 Wood in the rough (logs) 13,276 0.88 
Aluminium sheet 7,488 0.60 Aluminium sheet 7,769 0.51 
Palm oil, crude or refined 6,407 0.51 Palm oil, crude or refined 7,164 0.47 
Total Selected products 1,173,863 93.40 Total Selected products 1,424,514 94.39 
Grand Total 1,256,789 100.00 Grand Total 1,509,215 100.00 
Source : National Institute of Statistics. Cameroon WT/TPR/G/187 
 Page 23 
 
 
Table 6:  Main import products 
Values in CFAF million  
2000 2001 Products 
Value Share (%) Products 
Value Share (%) 
Hydrocarbons 245,726 23.2 Hydrocarbons 249,054 18.2 
Machinery and mechanical appliances 95,407 9.0 M achinery and mechanical appliances 152,879 11.2 
Motor vehicles;  tractors 93,795 8.8 Motor vehicles;  tractors 126,912 9.3 
Cereals 58,830 5.5 Articles of iron or steel 110,286 8.1 
Electrical machinery and equipment 49,101 4.6 Cereals 77,714 5.7 
Salt;  sulphur;  earths;  cement 39,951 3.8 Electrical machinery and equipment 71,797 5.3 
Inorganic chemicals 37,940 3.6 Inorganic chemicals 48,852 3.6 
Passenger vehicles 33,150 3.1 Passenger vehicles 44,941 3.3 
Paper and paperboard 32,338 3.0 Paper and paperboard 39,253 2.9 
Pharmaceutical products 32,258 3.0 Pharmaceutical products 38,558 2.8 
Other wheat and meslin 29,513 2.8 Goods vehicles 37,691 2.8 
Aluminium oxide 25,967 2.4 Aluminium oxide 34,993 2.6 
Products of the milling industry;  malt 25,521 2.4 Plastics 33,240 2.4 
Total Selected products 799,497 75.4 Total Selected products 1,066,169 78.0 
Grand Total 1,060,910 100.0 Grand Total 1,366,222 100.0 
 
2002 2003 Products 
Value Share (%) Products 
Value Share (%) 
Hydrocarbons 190,394 14.7 Hydrocarbons 223,084,248 17.8 
Machinery and mechanical appliances 167,199 12.9 M achinery and mechanical appliances 127,996,992 10.2 
Motor vehicles;  tractors 112,052 8.7 Motor vehicles;  tractors 116,567,299 9.3 
Cereals 87,984 6.8 Cereals 69,660,623 5.6 
Electrical machinery and equipment 84,269 6.5 Electrical machinery and equipment 63,027,292 5.0 
Pharmaceutical products 46,147 3.6 Passenger vehicles 47,767,462 3.8 
Paper and paperboard 42,420 3.3 Pharmaceutical products 43,900,836 3.5 
Articles of iron or steel 41,788 3.2 Paper and paperboard 37,669,837 3.0 
Passenger vehicles 41,094 3.2 Inorganic chemicals 36,751,634 2.9 
Inorganic chemicals 38,683 3.0 Plastics 36,635,580 2.9 
Plastics 36,996 2.9 Other wheat and meslin 32,753,597 2.6 
Other wheat and meslin 31,973 2.5 Fuels and lubricants 32,086,458 2.6 
Salt;  sulphur;  earths;  cement 29,951 2.3 Articles of iron or steel 32,038,459 2.6 
Total Selected products 950,949 73.4 Total Selected products 899,940 71.9 
Grand Total 1,295,021 100.0 Grand Total 1,251,561 100.0 
 
2004 2005 Products  
Value Share (%) Products  
Value Share (%) 
Hydrocarbons 229,436,391 16.8 Hydrocarbons 457,443,551 30.0 
Machinery and mechanical appliances 121,602,863 8.9 Cereals 113,116,912 7.4 
Electrical machinery and equipment 113,669,261 8.3 Motor vehicles;  tractors 102,061,169 6.7 
Motor vehicles;  tractors 113,638,919 8.3 Machinery and mechanical appliances 101,102,958 6.6 
Cereals 89,779,117 6.6 Electrical machinery and equipment 75,316,781 4.9 
Pharmaceutical products 48,139,019 3.5 Inorganic chemicals 46,484,195 3.0 
Passenger vehicles 46,793,648 3.4 Pharmaceutical products 41,527,320 2.7 
Inorganic chemicals 46,481,796 3.4 Passenger vehicles 40,673,126 2.7 
Plastics 39,281,905 2.9 Salt;  sulphur;  earths;  cement 39,080,651 2.6 
Paper and paperboard 37,838,317 2.8 Plastics 38,827,145 2.5 
Aluminium oxide 34,388,821 2.5 Paper and paperboard 35,412,793 2.3 
Articles of iron or steel 32,880,758 2.4 Aluminium oxide 35,374,930 2.3 
Salt;  sulphur;  earths;  cement 32,116,06 5 2.4 Fish and crust aceans 33,165,391 2.2 
Total Selected products 986,047 72.2 Total Selected products 1,159,587 76.1 
Grand Total 1,365,047 100,0 Grand Total 1,524,464 100.0 
Source : National Institute of Statistics. 
__________