To accelerate local development: SMEs Promotion Agency, UCCC sign collaboration framework agreement.

Both institutions sealed the deal in a ceremony at the Yaounde VII Council, Wednesday. 

Also present at the ceremony was a cross section of representatives from the different councils, as well as stakeholders in the SMEs sector.  

Enter SMEPA General Manager

Speaking during the ceremony, the General Manager of SMEPA, Jean Marie Louis Badga, outlined the importance of the partnership. 

“This partnership is crucial for driving economic and social improvements at the municipal level. This is by providing training for municipal authorities and assisting in the preparation of business plans. Through this, SMEPA and UCCC are empowering local authorities to better manage their resources and implement sustainable projects,” Badga said. 

SMEPA boss added that the “collaboration also addresses a critical need for councils to create a database of communal activities, ensuring that project ideas are well-documented and accessible”. 

According to the SMEPA General Manager, one of the primary goals of the agreement is to bolster grassroots entrepreneurship. 

“SMEPA will provide critical support to councils, helping local populations establish businesses that contribute to the economic vitality of their communities,” Badga stated.

More so, the partnership between the two entities, officials said, reflects government's sectoral policy, focusing on empowering councils to take charge of their local economies and improve the standard of living for their residents.

UCCC commits to upholding agreement

Speaking during the event, the National President of UCCC, Augustin Tamba, reiterated the body’s commitment to upholding the terms of the agreement and becoming vectors of development.

“The UCCC will fully honour their commitments within this framework to facilitate the implementation of this collaborative platform,” Tamba stated.  

He further emphasised the importance of this agreement, noting that it aligns with the government's broader strategy of import substitution which has been championed by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.

“Through this convention, the UCCC and SMEPA will work together to create a synergy that influences local resources for economic development,” Tamba told reporters. 

According to the municipal authority, one of the key pillars of this initiative is the "Production Municipalities" concept, which seeks to place councils at the heart of the local productive system.

The idea, Tamba said, is to empower municipalities to become engines of local economic growth by promoting sustainable and self-reliant production models.

The UCCC boss expressed great optimism about the new platform of collaboration, seeing it as a critical tool for driving local development and promoting economic self-sufficiency. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3234 of Thursday September 19, 2024