The Cameroon Embassy celebrated the country’s 42nd National Day on Tuesday with a reception at the Diplomatic Quarter in the Saudi capital.

The event was held at the residence of Ambassador Iya Tidjani. Abdallah Al-Qarni, assistant secretary for Riyadh governorate, and African, Arab and European diplomats attended the event.

Tidjani said the attendance of various diplomats “reflected their friendship with his country.”

Tidjani also thanked the Kingdom for funding social and industrial projects in Cameroon through the Saudi Development Fund.

“Indeed our diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia has been growing from strength to strength, and there’s further scope to do so,” Tidjani said. “With their commitment to peace and security and their deep belief in the virtues of multilateralism, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia established ties in 1961.”

He said that nearly 50 Cameroonians are enrolled in Arabic and religious courses at universities in the Saudi capital.

On the economic front, he said Cameroon has a growth plan running to 2035 and urged foreign investors to take advantage of the country’s potential.

He said Cameroon offers an excellent climate, strategic location and stable socio-political environment. Saudi investments in Cameroon now totals SR250 million, he said.

“Cameroon is a symbol of institutional stability with an economy in constant progress in an open and democratic society. It has a favorable business environment. The investment charter is one key incentive for business in Cameroon,” he said.

He said the country’s economy is based on agriculture, oil production and a sizeable food processing industry, aluminum mining, and tourism.

Cameroon produces cocoa, coffee, tea, cotton, bananas, rubber, palm oil and sugar. It is also rich in oil, natural gas, bauxite, iron, gold, diamonds, sapphires, cobalt, nickel and other minerals, he said.