07 May 2024

Cameroon has commenced building an ICT facility as part of a government initiative to standardise and safeguard the country’s consular services, including an electronic visa (eVisa) system that was implemented in 2023.

Impact Palmarès R&D SAS will build the Ministry of External Relations’ Digital Transformation Centre (CTDM-MINREX) in the next 12 months. The eco-friendly, high-tech four-story building Yaounde will include an ICT laboratory, a management unit for the supply, storage, and distribution of consular service equipment, consumables, and printed materials, a training room, a 24-hour call centre, and a data storage unit.

Cameroon’s minister of external relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, said that CTDM-MINREX’s functions will allow the country to improve the quality of its consular services to international standards. The centre will streamline consular procedures and expedite work processes, allowing applicants to receive eVisas to Cameroon in 24-48 hours.

The facility will also serve to ensure the country’s sovereignty over the data created by the eVisa system, safeguard consular data, and modernise internal operations. Cameroon welcomed 157,668 visitors of all categories through the country’s two main international airports of Douala and Yaounde between 30 April 2023 and 30 March 2024, one year after the new eVisa system was deployed.

“Since the launch of the eVisa platform, we have experienced an impressive rise in the number of persons visiting Cameroon, With the coming of this centre, we expect that number to increase and several other positive changes,” said Mbella Mbella.

In addition to a data centre to manage and process consular information, the agreement includes the creation of biometric consular cards and other diplomatic documents.