After recently inaugurating 57 billion FCFA factories: PROMETAL Groupe to construct one billion FCFA firefighting unit in Douala.

The investment is the company's part in a tripartite convention signed with the Ministry of Defense and the Industrial Zones Development and Management Authority, MAGZI. 

The convention was signed on Monday February 19. This was during a dual ceremony in Douala. 

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, who also took part in the exercise laid the foundation stone for the construction of the firefighting unit.

Stakeholders among them staff of PROMETAL witnessed the event. The milestone contribution of PROMETAL comes after it recently launched two new factories worth 57 billion FCFA.

The facility, officials said, will help protect citizens from natural or man-made hazards. 

PROMETAL key partner of State

Speaking at the event, the Director General and President of PROMETAL Groupe, Hayssam El Jammal, reiterated the company's commitment to be a key partner of the state. 

Recalling that, a year ago, PROMETAL Groupe suffered the shock of a grave fire incident which caused significant material damage, El Jammal expressed gratitude that there was no casualty.

He said, at that very trying moment, they were moved by government’s compassion manifested through authorities of the Littoral Region, the Ministry of Defence, the National Firefighting Corps, the Gendarmerie among others.

To prevent a repeat of such an incident, PROMETAL Groupe, is through this fresh investment making real its vital contribution to support government protect persons and property.

In agreement with the Ministry of Defence and MAGZI, PROMETAL Groupe, made a commitment to build and equip the firefighting unit that has been approved in April 2004.

Facility a plus to Littoral Region

The boss of the PROMETAL Groupe, said: "This investment, estimated at around one billion CFA francs, will enable anticipated and preventive management of accidents, disasters and dangers, not only in this industrial zone, but also throughout the entire Littoral Region and its surroundings". 

He reiterated that the investment is part of PROMETAL Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, in terms of health, education, environmental protection and assistance to vulnerable populations. 

Integrating civic responsibility into management 

The project to build a firefighting rescue centre will bring PROMETAL Group's civic commitment in recent years to more than 3 billion FCFA. 

The PROMETAL Groupe has integrated civic responsibility into its management vision as a pillar of development. 

The scheme, management said, is attached to the company’s commitment to quality policy. 

"It is the testimony of our irreversible march alongside the State of Cameroon, in the spirit of living together advocated by the Head of State, His Excellency, Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon,” El Jammal stated.

He also said: “The idea of ​​supporting the State in the construction of the Rescue Center, work on which will begin on this site soon, came from a simple observation: the State cannot do everything. Our duty is also to do our part in circumstances where we ourselves are concerned by actions of public interest".

The rescue centre, stakeholders have said, is an asset to the Bassa Industrial Zone and the surrounding populations for the prevention and management of possible disasters.

Government had decided since 2004, well before the start of PROMETAL GROUP’s activities, to set up a Rescue Center in the industrial zone.

Gov’t salutes PROMETAL's unmatched support

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, who spoke on behalf of the State, congratulated the PROMETAL Groupe.

Beti Assomo extended a special message from the Head of State to the management of the company before singling out the interest of the PROMETAL Groupe boss for standing by the State.

The minister said the commitment of the PROMETAL Groupe is “unusual in that, neither does it mark the start of work on a state-funded site, nor the launch of a private project designed to generate profits for its promoter or private investor”.

The minister remarked that: “It is a true reflection of altruistic and philanthropic project, from the Greek word philis, which means love and ‘antrôpe’: man as such, a project to improve the good or the love of fellow men”.

Beti Assomo also thanked other stakeholders such as MAGZI for working to make the development smooth. He singled out MAGZI for supporting national and foreign investors.

A recollection of fire incidents that have happened in different parts of the country, the minister said, will better make is easy for stakeholders to know how important the firefighting unit will be once in place.

The defence minister also thanked PROMETAL Groupe boss for having taken actions since the last fire incident in the company to strengthen the intervention capacity of firefighters.

The minister said the center will serve the purpose of conducting discussions on fire prevention and forecasting of industrial structures in the Bassa Industrial Zone.

Gov’t to acquire more firefighting equipment

The minister revealed that the Head of State has authorized the   acquisition of new equipment worth 32 billion FCFA from the French firm DESAUTEL.

The equipment comprising over 200 new intervention vehicles, he said, will add to those expected from cooperation with some partners. 

He expressed the hope that the investments will beef up the technical performance of firefighters. 

He said government plans to increase the equipment to 100 for a national rescue coverage in the near future.

Firefighting center in a nutshell

The two-storey edifice will comprise amongst other facilities: an operations office, modern rooms, refectory, gymnasium, training hall, conference hall, rest rooms and emergency rescue unit.