Recently  a draft law on subcontracting in the country has been submitted to the parliament, this law aims to promote the growth of local SMEs and small-scale industries, which have become essential in the implementation of major infrastructure projects in Cameroon. Subcontracting known as Commercial Contract is a strategic issue for the development and strengthening of the competitiveness of SMEs, which account for more than 90% of the national economic activity. With a view to strengthening their protection, the draft law makes national preference mandatory in sectors related to the implementation of large-scale or structuring projects," the government emphasizes. The law if adopted by the parliamentarians ,will become mandatory in Cameroon for all contracts executed in certain sectors of activity and for certain types of structuring or large-scale projects which will be specified in a separate text. Furthermore, this activity will be reserved for Cameroonian SMEs and small-scale industries, which must have at least 51% of their capital held by nationals, regardless of the legal form, and have their headquarters in Cameroon .In addition, the draft law specifies that in the event of material or technical incapacity of Cameroonian SMEs to carry out the activities to be subcontracted, duly noted by the authority in charge of subcontracting, the main contractor may resort to any other company under Cameroonian law, particularly large companies, whose shareholding is made up of at least 33% of national shareholders. The use of an international company is only authorized in the event of duly established incapacity of Cameroonian SMEs and large companies, provided that the duration of the activity to be subcontracted does not exceed six months. Beyond this deadline,the  international company requested is  required to create a company under Cameroonian law

The adoption and entry into force of this law should not only guarantee subcontracting contracts to local companies but also better strengthen the positioning of SMEs in the project implementation chain in Cameroon.

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