Almost all U.S. companies operating in, or attempting to enter, the Cameroonian market have a local presence.  While this sometimes includes a physical office, companies often use local partners, agents or distributors.  Because of the difficult bureaucracy, most projects require frequent face-to-face interaction with civil servants, and without a permanent presence of some kind, projects become lost in the various ministries.  Due diligence is a must for any company considering entry into the market. Government procurement is a long and arduous process in Cameroon, and understanding and enforcing legal agreements is painstaking work.