The furniture industry in Cameroon is experiencing significant growth, with an increasing number of showrooms and furniture stores popping up in major cities like Yaoundé and Douala. According to Jean Claude Dongmo Tanda, president of the African Salon of Wood, Craftsmanship, Decoration, and Local Community Development in Cameroon, this growth is a positive sign of a developing economy and a diversifying market. However, he notes that many of these showrooms are not well-structured and are often located on sidewalks or in makeshift spaces.
The type of furniture being produced in Cameroon is also evolving, with a shift towards upholstered furniture over traditional solid wood pieces. Dongmo Tanda attributes this shift to the fact that upholstered furniture is generally cheaper, faster to produce, and requires less skilled labor. For example, a solid wood bed can take several weeks to produce, while an upholstered one can be made much more quickly. This change is driven by market demands for affordability, faster delivery times, and a shortage of skilled labor.
Despite the growth of the furniture industry, Dongmo Tanda believes that Cameroon has not yet fully tapped into its potential for wood transformation. He argues that the country needs to move beyond small-scale artisanal production and develop a more organized value chain that includes legal wood sourcing, drying, sawing, transformation, manufacturing, finishing, design, and distribution. The Ministry of Forests and Fauna recognizes furniture as a high-value-added product, and Dongmo Tanda believes that this is an area that Cameroon should focus on developing.
To make the furniture industry sustainable and reduce reliance on imports, Dongmo Tanda identifies five key priorities. First, he emphasizes the need to organize sales spaces and create more structured showrooms. He also highlights the importance of developing a competitive and exportable product that is available, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. This will require investment in training and capacity-building for artisans and manufacturers.
The growth of the furniture industry in Cameroon is also driven by a thriving entrepreneurial spirit, with many small businesses and artisans producing furniture. However, Dongmo Tanda notes that this growth is not yet translating into a significant impact on the country's economy. He argues that the industry needs to be more organized and structured to achieve its full potential and create jobs and wealth for Cameroonians.
Cameroon has significant potential for wood transformation, with an abundance of forest resources, talented artisans, and a large domestic market. However, the country still struggles to produce enough high-quality, finished products to meet domestic demand, let alone export to international markets. Dongmo Tanda believes that by addressing the challenges facing the industry and developing a more organized value chain, Cameroon can unlock its full potential and become a major player in the regional furniture market.
The Cameroonian government can play a crucial role in supporting the development of the furniture industry by providing training and capacity-building programs for artisans and manufacturers. Additionally, the government can help to promote the industry by creating an enabling environment for businesses to operate and by supporting the development of infrastructure and logistics. By working together, the government, private sector, and civil society can help to unlock the potential of the furniture industry and create a more sustainable and competitive economy for Cameroon.
Key points
- The furniture industry in Cameroon needs to strengthen carpentry training to boost production of high-quality, finished products.
- The industry needs to develop a more organized value chain to achieve its full potential and create jobs and wealth for Cameroonians.
- The government can support the development of the industry by providing training and capacity-building programs and creating an enabling environment for businesses to operate.
