President & CEO

Professor Frank Forka

Pr. Frank Forka is a visionary strategist and transformational leader in public policy, management, and performance innovation. As a former Alternate Member of Parliament at the Cameroon National Assembly, he brings deep institutional insight and a bold commitment to inclusive development, trade diplomacy, and diaspora-driven growth. He currently serves as:

• Professor of Management Sciences, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), USA
• Founder, President & CEO of the U.S.–Africa Office of International Trade (USAOIT), headquartered in Washington, DC
• Founder, President & CEO of Royal Development Group (RDG) SARL, Cameroon
• Architect of National Employment Plan (NEP) for Cameroon (2025-2030)
• Architect of RDG’s City Performance and Innovation Program (CPIP), Software Development and Launch

Through RDG and USAOIT, Pr. Forka leads high-impact initiatives to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote sustainable development, and integrate the African diaspora into global trade and policy frameworks. His work spans public–private partnerships (PPP), strategic governance, and build–operate–transfer (BOT) models tailored to African realities.

As the architect of RDG’s CPIP, Pr. Forka is spearheading a national digital transformation initiative to modernize the performance of Cameroon’s 360 local and urban councils. The program includes:

• CPI Software Platform for real-time performance tracking
• Municipal diagnostics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) development
• Training and capacity building for council staff
• Citizen feedback systems
• Annual performance scorecards aligned with decentralization goals

CPIP positions RDG as a strategic partner to MINDDEVEL, MINATD, and regional councils, offering a scalable solution for governance, transparency, and service delivery.

Areas of Expertise

• Government operations, public policy and economic diplomacy
• Business process improvement, performance and data management
• International trade and organizational development
• Project management and public finance
• Human-centered design methodologies

Strategic Contributions

• Facilitated U.S.–Africa trade and investment under AGOA
• Mobilized public and private stakeholders around inclusive growth models
• Led conferences and policy dialogues across Africa and the United States
• Advised governments and institutions on modernization, decentralization, and diaspora engagement

Distinctions and Official Citations – United States

• Senatorial Citation from U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin for U.S.–Africa Trade and AGOA Development
• Congressional Citation from U.S. Representative Chris Van Hollen for Exceptional Leadership in U.S.-Africa Trade
• Congressional Award from U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards for Exceptional Leadership in U.S.–Africa Trade Development
• Citation from the Governor of Maryland for leadership in U.S.–Africa Trade Expansion
• Citation from the Governor of Maryland for Community Leadership
• Citation from the Maryland General Assembly for Community Service
• Citation from Prince George’s County Council for Community Leadership