On working visit: Mines minister says SW Region soon hub for industrial transformation.

The member of government made the declaration Thursday October 24. He was speaking at the end of a working visit to the South West Region. 
The visit took the minister notably to the soft drinks production company, PRISTINE SASU, in Mudeka, Tiko Subdivision.
The mines boss was accompanied by the President of South West Regional Assembly, the governor of the South West Region, the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Division amongst other administrative, municipal and traditional authorities.  
The visit to Tiko was the culmination of Minister Fuh Calistus’ five-day working visit to companies in the Littoral and South West Regions. 
Speaking to the press after touring the PRISTINE SASU company factory under construction, the minister said following the orientation of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, all has been put in place by the various authorities to revive the Region; that has been affected by socio-political upheavals. 
He noted that stability, which is a prerequisite for development, has permitted the Region to join the rest of the country to develop, especially in the areas of industries and opportunities.
“We are here today to say that the governor and the local administrators have done all under the orientations of the Head of State for this Region to be stable and we have the evidence that industries are being developed in the South West Region,” Prof Fuh Calistus said. 
Going by the minister, government wants to see that the full potential of the South West Region, in terms of industries, is exploited and for the Region to become one of the major hubs of industrial transformation in the country.
“We want CDC to transform 70% of what they produce. We don’t want to be an exporter of raw materials. We want to transform locally, that way jobs are created and wealth developed. The rest of the country is moving in that domain and we do not want the South West Region, which ought to be the leader, to become a place where we have to be preaching messages,” he declared. 
Prof Fuh Calistus then called on economic operators and other stakeholders in the Region, to join the trail in making sure that the South West Region does not lag behind in terms of development.

Launches One-Municipality, One Industry policy
The member of government equally used the opportunity to launch a new policy adopted by his ministry aimed at promoting industrialisation and creation opportunities for all Cameroonians across the country.
“I want to take this opportunity to announce on South West soil that from today, government, through the ministry of Mines, has adopted the policy of: One Municipality, One Industry, for the entire country,” the minister declared. 
He further explained that: “The industry sector is on the expansion phase in the country. We are just from Souza, where a project for the production of tiles is under development and which will take Cameroon to a pool position in Africa as a major producer of tiles. Products will even be exported to other countries”. 
Noting that there will be certain municipalities or Regions that will have more industries or capacities to expand, the minister assured that his ministry will work together with municipal authorities and the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development to ensure that jobs are created for youth in every municipality in the country.

The PRISTINE SASU project
The industrial complex project located in the Mudeka area of Tiko, is said to be an investment worth 32 billion FCFA. The company deals in the production and bottling of mineral water, carbonated drinks and dairy drinks, with an annual production capacity of 500,000 hectolitres of drinks.
The PRISTINE SASU project is in line with the national policy of import-substitution and valorisation of local raw materials. 
It is expected to help in meeting the local consumption needs of populations, but to also contribute to the local socio-economic development of the Region, through the development of its natural and agro-pastoral resources, and the creation of 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
 

Revival of industrial activities in SW
During a brief ceremony at the site of the PRISTINE SASU factory, the mines minister explained that the project is a flagship initiative of the ministry. 
“In fact, the size of its construction cost and its projected impact on the development and revival of industrial activities in the South West Region are arguments that supported the special monitoring of its implementation,” he stated.
Like several other strategic private industrial projects, he mentioned that the Mudeka-based project has benefited from government's multi-faceted support in terms of securing the site, connecting it to the various water and electricity networks, and developing service roads, as well as the tax and customs facilities provided for under the framework for encouraging investment in the country.
“This is proof, if any were needed, of the strength of public-private partnership in our country, a win-win partnership in which the State of Cameroon takes all the necessary steps to make its business climate more attractive and to ensure the sustainability of private investment,” he asserted.
The member of government further explained that Prime Ministerial decision N°2019/3179/PM of September 2, 2019, grants a status to the South West Region as an economic disaster area just as the North West and Far North Regions.
The decree, he stated, provide an incentive framework for investors to support industrial development in the Regions concerned.
“As part of this drive to boost industrial activity, MINMIDT is ready to support South West Region's leading agro-industries, notably PAMOL and CDC, in strengthening their capacities,” he assured.
He further revealed that a working visit has been planned to the FORCE TYRE plant dedicated to the production of tyres, through the local processing of rubber, which also contributes to strengthening the import-substitution strategy.
In addition, Minister Fuh Calistus indicated that the signing of an agreement between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea for the exploitation of the Yoyo-Yolanda cross-border oil and gas fields, as well as the imminent exploitation of the Étindé gas field, are examples of the energy production boost in the South West Region. 
“These initiatives do not only guarantee a sustainable energy supply, but also stimulate local industries,” he emphasised.

Tiko mayor salute gov’t’s drive 
The Mayor of Tiko municipality, HRM Peter Ikome Mesoso III, saluted the One Municipality, One Industry initiative of government, which he said will help in transforming the Subdivision. 
Going by the municipal magistrate, the implementation of the policy will help the youth, as more employment opportunities will be created. He said it will curb the mad rush of the youth to big cities like Douala and Yaounde, in search of jobs.
“The policy is going to be great for Tiko because gone are those days when we used to think that only Douala or the Littoral Region is an industrial zone where every company want to locate there and every person will be leaving the South West Region and rushing there,” the mayor said.  
He also emphasised that the Tiko municipality has sufficient land for industrial needs and will be ready to support any interested investors in facilitating their installation in the area.
“In Tiko, there is an industrial zone called Maxim, where people who want to invest can go to the industrial zone. If they need it in the Moungo area, land is also available,” he further assured. 
It is worth noting that Minister Fuh Calistus equally held working sessions with members of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Artisans, CCIIMA, in the South West Region. 
The working session, which was organised at the Likomba Golf Club and attended by other economic operators in the Region, was aimed at brainstorming on measures taken by government for the economic revival of the Region.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3273 of Monday October 28, 2024