The 4 July 2022 marked the closing of the 5th edition of the Furniture and Non-Timber Forest Products Fair. At the end of this edition, several awards were handed to women who distinguished themselves by their know-how, creativity, inventiveness and dynamism.
Launched by the Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Mr. Achille BASSILEKIN III on 30 June 2022, at the Yaounde Conference Centre, this fair is the initiative of the “Artisan au Feminin” Association and grants centre stage to women by showcasing their creativity and expertise.
Opened on 29 June, 2022, this five-day exhibition provided an opportunity to raise awareness, mobilise and federate all the players involved in 2nd and 3rd wood processing on the stakes and challenges they face. The fair placed under the theme “The place of women in wood processing” is a showcase to promote enterprises processing wood and developing non-timber forest products. It is also an invite to consume Cameroon-made goods, encourage female entrepreneurship and in a nutshell, show the will to contribute to Cameroon’s development objectives.
While presiding over this event, the Minister of SMESEHs, Achille BASSILEKIN III strongly commended the initiative which seeks not only to promote the “Made in Cameroon” label but also women’s entrepreneurship spirit in terms of employment and wealth creation. He also seized this opportunity to encourage women for the quality of their products displayed during this fair and reiterated his unflinching and unconditional support to this female know-how initiative.
Mrs. Hélène MAPOKO, promoter of the event, commended and appreciated MINPMEESA for his tireless support during each of her projects. She went ahead to express her full delight in the constant support from MINPMEESA and heartily thanked the Minister of SMESEHs.
The major innovation of this edition is the participation of craftspeople in the national contest on the theme: “Innovation in wood processing and other non-timber forest products”.