A capacity-building workshop for actors in the Cameroonian shrimp sector opened this Wednesday, April 15, in Douala. Organized over two days by the Pasteur Center of Cameroon, this initiative takes place in a context marked by a decline in the market share of Cameroonian shrimp internationally.

Faced with this situation, the organizers intend to support the actors in the sector towards better compliance with the regulatory and health requirements of export markets, notably those of the European Union and the United States. According to the officials of the Pasteur Center of Cameroon, this upgrade constitutes an essential lever to strengthen the competitiveness of the sector.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Victor Viban Banah, Regional Delegate of MINEPIA for the Littoral. Beside him were Suzanne Belinga, Deputy Director General of the CPC, as well as Baba Inoussa, representative of the FAO.

In his speech, Dr. Victor Viban Banah emphasized the potential of the sector, highlighting that Cameroon has a “shrimp of exceptional quality, by all accounts.” An asset that, according to him, deserves to be better valued in international markets.

Under the theme of raising awareness about compliance with regulatory and sanitary requirements for shrimp exports, this meeting is part of the FISH4ACP project. The first day was devoted to capacity building for private sector stakeholders. Through technical sessions led by CPC experts, participants were equipped to better understand and apply current international standards.

The work was also marked by the presentation of a comprehensive study on the shrimp sector in Cameroon. The main findings presented should help in developing an economic model adapted to LANAVET.

A true strategic link in the national system, LANAVET plays a crucial role in verifying the compliance of Cameroonian fishery products. Its action is essential to ensure compliance with the standards required by international markets, particularly those of the European Union and the United States.

Through this workshop, stakeholders demonstrate a clear ambition: to sustainably structure the shrimp sector and restore the presence of Cameroonian shrimp in international markets.