Douala: SMEs drilled on subcontract management.

The training session was organised by the Cameroon Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange, known by its French abbreviation, BSTP. 

It was aimed at equipping both large and small companies with the tools necessary to effectively manage subcontracting relationships, minimise risks, and ensure legal compliance.

The workshop brought together participants from various sectors and covered a wide range of topics, including understanding subcontracting contracts, risk management, dispute resolution, and optimising subcontracting relationships.

The training sought to ensure that SMEs successfully navigate the often-complex relationships that subcontracting entails, thereby strengthening their position in the market. 

According to BSTP, as subcontracting continues to gain prominence in the business world, the workshop comes on the heels of the growing need for sustainable, balanced partnerships between client companies and subcontractors.

It was disclosed that outsourcing specific tasks allows large companies to focus on their core competencies, while ensuring quality, and at the same time, gives subcontractors the chance to enhance their technology, focus on their core business, and access new markets.

Speaking during the session, the main resource person, Nana Ngogang Arthur, said subcontracting is not just a transactional relationship but also a partnership where both parties must work together to ensure the contract’s success.

He emphasised the importance of identifying key contract clauses that protect a company’s interests, manage risks, and provide a framework for resolving disputes in case of a breach.

The organisers revealed further that subcontracting plays a critical role in the Cameroonian economy by creating business relationships that benefit both the subcontractors and the client companies.

With the skills imparted during the workshop, officials say SMEs are expected to enter into more balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships with larger enterprises, thereby contributing to economic growth and competitiveness.

Participants laud initiative 

Speaking to reporters after the workshop, one of the workshop attendees, Jocelyn Ndomo, expressed satisfaction with the training, noting that the skills she acquired would enable her company to engage in subcontracting with greater confidence and fewer challenges. 

"With the knowledge I have gained here, my company can now subcontract with little or no problem," she said.

About BSTP

According to officials, BSTP's mission is to help SMEs and small-to-medium-sized industries, SMIs, involved in subcontracting activities to become more competitive and secure more contracts from larger companies. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No: 3261 of Wednesday October 16, 2024