Marthe Angeline Minja, Director of Investment Promotion Agency, dies

Cameroon is in mourning following the passing of Marthe Angeline Minja, the first Director General of the Investment Promotion Agency (API), who breathed her last in Morocco where she had been undergoing medical treatment.

The news of her death was confirmed at 7:32 p.m. local time, marking the end of a remarkable career dedicated to promoting investment and economic development in Cameroon.

Marthe Angeline Minja held a distinguished academic background, having earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and a diploma from the Neuilly-sur-Seine School of Commerce.

When President Paul Biya appointed her as the Director General of the recently established Investment Promotion Agency in 2010, her illustrious career took a historic turn.

At the helm of the API, Marthe Angeline Minja was instrumental in enhancing Cameroon’s global image and positioning it as an attractive destination for foreign investors.

She played a crucial role in implementing Cameroon’s 2013 law on incentives for private investment, facilitating the signing of 225 agreements with various national and international investors over six years.

These agreements amounted to a cumulative investment intention of 3.846 billion FCFA, with approximately 74,000 jobs anticipated as a result.

Minja’s leadership was marked by dedication to economic development, fostering investment, and attracting investors to contribute to Cameroon’s growth.

Her vision extended beyond the economic realm; she was a trailblazer, setting an example for young girls and encouraging them to aspire to leadership roles in their respective fields.

A seasoned public servant, Minja’s career began in 1983 when she was recruited into the Cameroonian civil service following a special recruitment of 1,500 young higher education graduates.

She spent nearly two decades at the Ministry of Tourism, steadily climbing the ranks before being appointed as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism in 2002.

Her commitment to public service and dedication to her country were unwavering.

In addition to her role at API, Minja also served as the Director for Africa of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (AMAPI), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Amapi brings together 160 countries, and Minja’s appointment as its director for Africa reflected her standing in the global community.

The passing of Marthe Angeline Minja is not only a loss for Cameroon’s economic landscape but also a departure of a trailblazer and an advocate for women’s leadership.

Mimi Mefo Info