Maximising opportunities of AfCFTA: Experts brainstorm on enhancing public-private partnerships.

By Macwalter Njapteh Refor

The hybrid event was organised by the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation. 

The event, which brought together policy-makers, researchers, think tanks, and other key actors from the public and private sectors, was placed under the theme: “Making the most of the African Continental Free Trade Area through public-private partnerships in Cameroon”.

According to Executive Director of the Nkafu Policy Institute, Dr Merlin Mfondo, the objective of the gathering was to critically examine the roles of the public and private sectors in accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA in Cameroon. 

“We have been holding working sessions and panel discussions with experts in the field to know what is being done to take advantage of this AfCFTA. So, it is in continuity of that that we have organised this panel discussion today to try to how public-private partnership could be used to leverage on AfCFTA implementation in Cameroon,” Dr Mfondo said.

He further explained that it was an opportunity to examine the challenges and obstacles that may impede the smooth implementation of the AfCFTA and analyse potential solutions, as well as provided recommendations for fruitful public-private partnerships in Cameroon. 

Going by renewable energy systems from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovations, Dr David Tsuanyo, in order to maximise the potentials of the AfCFTA, there is need for strengthening of capacities and sensitisation of the population.

He explained that entrepreneurs need to be trained on all that concern technology and transformation to enable them have products of international standards.  

“Also, the sensitisation of the private sector who have to be informed of the different opportunities in technological development, and the manufacturing competitive product in the sub region,” Dr Tsuanyo added.

Quizzed on how Cameroon can benefit from the AfCFTA through the public-private partnership, Dr Essomme Innocent, lecturer at Yaounde II University, said the State has given to local or international enterprises the opportunity to participate in certain projects that were initially deemed as sovereignty projects.

This, he mentioned, can be seen in the transport, energy, and ICT sectors.   

“At the level of AfCFTA, the market is no longer local, but international which means we have to search for opportunities and create them,” he stated, adding that: “Cameroon can benefit not only through importation but also through exportation of its products and natural riches”. 

“We must also come to term that through public-private partnership, the advantage is to implicate actors in the management of public affairs. We have seen this in the social housing, transport and energy for example,” he further mentioned.