Regulatory Reform for Private Sector Growth in Cameroon: Lessons from Rwanda and Mauritius

Introduction

The private sector is at the heart of innovation, job creation, and economic transformation. In Cameroon, businesses still operate in a regulatory environment that remains complex, with procedures that are difficult to follow, fragmented institutions, and public services that are not always effective (Sangué-Fotso, & Tachouola, 2025). These obstacles can increase costs for businesses, limit their ability to invest, and undermine the country’s attractiveness. According to the World Bank (2025) & Kouam & Djamo, (2025) there are significant gaps in Cameroon’s regulatory framework, public services, and operational efficiency. In this context, simplifying and improving regulations becomes a crucial issue for competitiveness. This note first addresses the importance of regulatory quality for Cameroonian businesses, then draws lessons from the experiences of Rwanda and Mauritius, particularly regarding simplification, digitization, and dialogue with the private sector.

1.    Why Regulations Matter

The quality of regulations affects not only the ease with which a business can be established, but also its operating costs, its ability to invest, its access to financing, and its decision to remain in the formal sector. Indeed, an effective regulatory environment must reduce unnecessary administrative costs while ensuring legal certainty and the protection of public interests. It should be noted that the quality of the business environment is a key factor in private sector development and that this dimension is measured across three pillars: the regulatory framework, public services, and operational efficiency (World Bank, 2025).

In Cameroon, the main problem lies not only in the existence of rules but also in their implementation. In 2025, Cameroon scored 59 out of 100 for the regulatory framework, 36 for public services, and 57 for operational efficiency. The gap is particularly concerning in the area of dispute resolution, where the country scored only 35 out of 100, placing it among the bottom 20% of economies in terms of this indicator. This stems in particular from low adoption of digital tools, insufficient mediation services, and certain limitations regarding the reliability of the judicial system (World Bank, 2025).

These weaknesses lead to higher costs for businesses, make access to financing more difficult, and can discourage investment. Lengthy procedures and an inefficient commercial justice system also undermine entrepreneurs’ confidence. It is therefore essential to improve regulations to foster investment and entrepreneurial activity.

Regulatory reform should thus be viewed as a policy to enhance competitiveness and productivity, rather than merely as a means of reducing red tape. For Cameroon, the goal should be to make rules more predictable, procedures less costly, and public services more accessible. Such an approach would allow formal businesses to devote more resources to investment, innovation, and expansion, while creating conditions more conducive to the formalization of economic activities.

2. The Experiences of Rwanda and Mauritius

Rwanda demonstrates that effective regulatory reform relies less on a single measure than on a combination of institutional streamlining, the digitization of services, and the monitoring of administrative performance. The creation of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) made it possible to consolidate several functions related to investment promotion, business registration, and the facilitation of economic activities. The RDB currently reports that business registration can be completed online and that the service combines, among other things, incorporation, obtaining a tax identification number, and social security registration into a single process (Rwanda Development Board, 2026).

Rwanda scores 87 out of 100 in the area of starting a business, with particularly high scores for the regulatory framework (96.11/100) and public services (100/100), while operational efficiency stands at 64/100 (World Bank, 2025). In particular, the system allows entrepreneurs to complete the main procedures online and obtain their registration within up to six hours if the application meets the requirements. The lesson for Cameroon, therefore, goes beyond a simple recommendation to digitize. The first step is to reduce institutional fragmentation and clarify responsibilities, and then to integrate the procedures into a coherent digital platform.

Mauritius has invested in digitizing its administration to streamline business procedures. The Companies and Businesses Registration Integrated System (CBRIS) enables companies to register online. Mauritius Network Services provides digital tools for formalities related to international trade and customs. The Mauritius Revenue Authority also allows users to file certain tax returns and make payments online. These tools help reduce the need for in-person visits and repetitive tasks. In June 2026, the Economic Development Board launched the Business Obstacles Alert Mechanism (BOAM), which allows businesses to report administrative difficulties.

3. Lessons for Cameroon

Cameroon can draw three important lessons from the experiences of Rwanda and Mauritius. First, simplifying regulations requires better coordination among government agencies and the consolidation of procedures, rather than creating multiple digital platforms that are not interconnected. Second, digitization must be accompanied by clear objectives, such as processing times, administrative costs, and access to public services. Finally, businesses must be sustainably involved in identifying regulatory barriers so that reforms effectively address the challenges they face. However, Cameroon cannot simply copy these models, as any adaptation must take into account Cameroon’s institutional capacities and local realities. A gradual reform—regularly evaluated and supported by clearly defined administrative accountability—would help improve investor confidence and the competitiveness of the private sector.

Recommendations

1. Facilitate business creation

The government should create a single online platform that allows entrepreneurs to start a business, obtain a tax ID number, and register for social security in a single step. The goal could be to achieve a business setup time of 48 hours. The current platform created by the EU should come under government management to ensure that locals manage the business creation and facilitation process/procedures.

2. Accelerate the digitization of land titles

MINDCAF should continue to digitize land titles to reduce processing times, secure property rights, and facilitate the use of property as collateral for obtaining loans. People who facilitate fraudulent documents should be brought to justice – faster.

3. Speed up commercial justice

Specialized commercial courts should be strengthened in Douala and Yaoundé, equipped with digital tools to track cases. Faster decisions would help businesses better secure their contracts and investments.

4. Eliminate Unnecessary Procedures

The government should regularly review the formalities imposed on businesses and eliminate those that are no longer necessary. Ongoing reform would help reduce the costs and time spent on administrative procedures.

5. Listen More Closely to Businesses

Public authorities should regularly consult with entrepreneurs, employer associations, and chambers of commerce before adopting new rules. Reforms will be more effective if they take into account the day-to-day challenges faced by businesses.

Conclusion

Improving the business environment in Cameroon is not simply a matter of streamlining administrative procedures. Above all, it is about making life easier for entrepreneurs, saving them time, and enabling them to grow their businesses under more favorable conditions. The experiences of Rwanda and Mauritius show that better-organized government agencies, accessible digital services, and regularly listening to businesses can make a real difference. Cameroon can draw on these best practices while keeping its own specific circumstances in mind.

Références

Brosia, S. (2016). Management stratégique de start-up innovantes et création de valeurs [Thèse de doctorat, Université de Toulon]. HAL Thèses. https://theses.hal.science/tel-01523731

Economic Development Board (EDB). (2026). Business Obstacles Alert Mechanism (BOAM) Now Live. https://edbmauritius.org/fr/newsroom/business-obstacles-alert-mechanism-boam-now-live.

Government of Mauritius, Corporate and Business Registration Department. (s. d.). Online Services. https://companies.govmu.org/cbrd/category/online-services/.

Sangué-Fotso, R., & Tachouola, V. (2025). Contrôle de gestion dans les entités publiques camerounaises : une étude des réalités des pratiques. Vie & sciences de l’entreprise, (224), 222–243. https://shs.cairn.info/revue-vie-sciences-de-lentreprise-2025-1-page-222?lang=fr 

Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Office of the Registrar General. (s. d.). Business Registration. https://org.rdb.rw/business-registration/.

World Bank. (2025). Business Ready (B-READY) 2025: Cameroon. Rapport B-READY 2025 — Cameroun. https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/sites/b-ready/documents/pdf/economy/2025/cameroon-2025.pdf 

Author

Elda Djuissi

Free Market Fellow