CTBC Congratulates Ahmet Demirtaş on His Election as President of the DEİK Türkiye–Cameroon Business Counci
The Cameroon Türkiye Business Council extends its warm congratulations to Ahmet Demirtaş, Chairman of the Board of Tona Exim Cameroon, on his election as President of the DEİK Türkiye–Cameroon Business Council, under the umbrella of DEİK.
This election, held on 17 January 2026 during the DEİK General Assembly, is of particular importance not only for Türkiye–Cameroon relations, but for the broader architecture of private-sector driven economic diplomacy between the two countries.
Why DEİK matters
DEİK, the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye, is Türkiye’s principal private-sector institution for managing international economic relations. Established in 1985 and operating in close coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Trade, DEİK brings together leading Turkish companies, investors, and business leaders to advance trade, investment, and services globally.
What makes DEİK especially influential is its extensive network of bilateral business councils spanning more than 150 countries. These councils are not ceremonial bodies. They are operational platforms that connect private-sector actors directly, facilitate market entry, organize trade missions and investment forums, and address real-world business challenges through structured dialogue with public authorities.
Within this framework, the Türkiye–Cameroon Business Council serves as the institutional backbone for structured, sustained, and results-oriented engagement between the business communities of both countries.
A leadership rooted in experience, not distance
Ahmet Demirtaş is not new to the Cameroon business landscape.
In October 2023, he was part of the Turkish business delegation that visited Cameroon, participating in B2B meetings and institutional engagements. Beyond the formal programme, he chose to remain closely engaged with the Cameroon Türkiye Business Council and Cameroonian private-sector actors. During this period, he took part in working discussions with CTBC members, listened carefully to the challenges faced by businesses, visited Turkish and Cameroonian companies, explored port infrastructure, and spent time in Kribi assessing concrete opportunities on the ground.
These engagements marked the start of a deliberate and informed journey.
From engagement to investment
Following months of continued dialogue, due diligence, and on-the-ground assessment, Ahmet Demirtaş led the establishment of Tona Exim Cameroon, officially inaugurated in February 2025 as a subsidiary of Tona Exim and Petrol Ofisi. Operating in the lubricants and automotive oils sector, the company represents a tangible investment and a long-term commitment to Cameroon’s economy.
CTBC has closely accompanied and documented this journey, from the initial exploratory phase to the official inauguration, reflecting consistency, seriousness, and trust built over time.
Why this election is significant
On 17 January 2026, during the DEİK General Assembly elections, Ahmet Demirtaş, Chairman of the Board of Tona Exim, was elected President of the DEİK Türkiye–Cameroon Business Council.
This mandate places him at the centre of one of the most effective instruments of Türkiye’s economic diplomacy. As President, he will play a key role in shaping private-sector cooperation, guiding investment flows, and strengthening institutional ties between Turkish and Cameroonian businesses.
His leadership is particularly relevant because it is grounded in lived experience.
He understands the regulatory environment because he has navigated it.
He understands investor concerns because he has encountered them.
He understands opportunity because he has acted on it.
Looking ahead
For the Cameroon Türkiye Business Council, this election represents alignment, continuity, and renewed momentum. It reinforces the importance of business-led cooperation and places at the helm a leader whose understanding of Cameroon is rooted in presence, engagement, and investment.
CTBC looks forward to working closely with Ahmet Demirtaş in this new mandate and to further strengthening the institutional and commercial bridge between Cameroon and Türkiye through the DEİK platform.
Once again, congratulations.
Cameroon Türkiye Business Council