Cablegate: Russian Business Presence in Cameroon (C-Ci9-01825)

VZCZCXRO1642
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #0838 2781056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051056Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0326
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000838

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR BBSR ECON AO
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE IN CAMEROON (C-CI9-01825)

REF: STATE 88241

1. (U) Responses are prepared according to reftel.

A. (U) There is no official Russian trade representative
in Cameroon.

B. (U) There are no major Russian companies operating in
Cameroon.

C. (U) While Russia used to import cocoa and agricultural
products from Cameroon and export cars and fish during the
Soviet era, trade now is almost zero between Russia and
Cameroon and revenue is negligible.

D. (U) There are two or three private trade agents operating in
Cameroon, representing ten small Russian companies, primarily
trading wood, cocoa and coffee. Trade is declining due to
the difficult business atmosphere in Cameroon and
insurmountable levels of corruption.

E. (U) Cameroon and Russia are not seeking increased trade with
each other.

F. (U) There are 120 Russians residing in Cameroon
according to the Russian Embassy.

Peterson

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