At SAGO: Prof Fuh Calistus unveils mining, industrial projects to boost economy.

The minister unveiled the projects, last Friday July 29. This was during a conference organised on the side lines of the just ended Government Action Fair, dubbed SAGO.

The conference at the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex, was marked by a presentation of the implementation of major mining projects for inclusive and sustainable development, and Cameroon’s emergence by 2035.

Speaking during the event, the minister said, in keeping with the announcement of President Paul Biya, during his 2022 end-of-year address to the nation, some three mining projects will effectively kick-off this year.

He said following the instructions from the Head of State, 12 projects were identified as short term, medium and long term across the country.

“The reason most people cannot feel the impact of mining in the country is because we keep talking of potential. We have to move from a country of potential to a country that produces,” he said, before adding that “it is only in production that jobs are created, and wealth generated”. 

According to him, the development of the mining sector is essential in boosting the industrial spheres and having a major impact on the country’s economy, which he said had decline due to COVID-19 shocks. 

“So, we are working with the announcement made by the Head of State that three mining projects should start this year. We have already removed all the challenges necessary. We believe that all is ready for the mining industry to start. That is when Cameroonians will start feeling the impact of the mining industry in Cameroon,” Prof Fuh reiterated.

He also announced the establishment of an industrialisation master plan, with the pharmaceutical and metallurgical sectors being key aspects of the master plan. 

“Today, we pick up scrap metals to produce the iron rod you are seeing. We believe that once we start producing iron ore, we will have the primary materials for that,” he noted.

The Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, he assured, is equally working on projects related to the production of tiles, bitumen for road construction as well as clinkers for the manufacturing of cement.

“We are working on a project to start producing tiles which will start with technical actions. We also want to produce bitumen, which will lower the cost of road construction in Cameroon,” he announced. 

The minister asserted that: “We also want to produce clinkers, which will make the cost of the bag of cement to fall from over 5,000 FCFA to about 2,700 FCFA”. 

He said he believes that the country’s mining and industrial sectors are in the right direction as the President of the Republic remains committed to seeing that key projects are realised within the near future in order to move steadily towards achieving the 2035 emergence vision. 

“That is the stage where we want to move our industry to. I can assure you that we have identified four major industrial projects, which we have categorised into short term, medium term and long terms,” he told the pressmen.

He reiterated that government’s plan is to increase the density of its industrial presence. 

“Some years ago, there was no cement factory but today we have six cement factories. Our industrial space is increasing. Once the mining industry comes into play, it will be like a catalyst for our country,” he admitted.

It is worth noting that the 12^th edition of SAGO, was placed on the theme: “Infrastructure development and structural transformation of Cameroon’s economy”. 

The annual exhibition fair, which this year was launched on July 22, ended last Saturday July 29. The fair was attended by over 100,000 visitors and over 250 participants.

The closing ceremony, attended by several members of government, was chaired by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng. This was on behalf of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Jose