JEICOM 25: PM Dion Ngute reechoes gov't's resolve to step support for local dev't.

This was while officially opening the third edition of the Councils International Economic Forum, dubbed, JEICOM 25, on behalf of the Head of State, Paul Biya. 

The event, holding at the Yaounde Conference Centre, is under the theme: “Councils of production, moving towards the maturation of projects”

Dion Ngute, in his keynote address, told the over 200 investors and delegations from 25 countries with those from Morocco as guest country as well as national development actors that government has made great efforts in speeding up the decentralisation process. 

He assured that government is committed to continue supporting councils through different administrative mechanisms speed up local development. 

“The councils and regions are the focal points of our development. Development starts from there and we want to thank all those who have come from Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas to assist us in this effort,” the PM said. 

The Head of State’s representative at the international forum said improving the production and transformation capabilities of councils will help create jobs and opportunities, boost the government’s import substitution policy.

This, he said, will be through establishing meaningful contacts which will lead to win-win partnerships. 

In his intervention, the Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation to Cameroon, His Excellency, Jean-Marc Chataigner, called on government to strive to transform rural communities by empowering decentralised collectivities to effectively carry out the task of grassroots development.

He insinuated that the tensions in Cameroon and in other parts of the world are partly due to a disconnect between booming urban centres and depleted rural communities. 

Chataigner asserted that if grassroots communities are transformed into economically viable zones, the youth will settle there and naturally trust their leaders and elite. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon, UCCC, Augustin Tamba, underscored the need for councils to stimulate production and transformation initiatives at the base. 

Tamba said this will help reduce over importation of products that are produced in the country. 

The Director General of the Councils Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM, the representative of the African Union, AU, the French Ambassador to Cameroon, in separate speeches, hailed the initiative of JEICOM.

They said it is veritable avenue to foster North-South and South-South cooperation in boosting the potentials of councils. 

JEICOM, it should be said, was created in 2021 as a means to create opportunities for the development councils and promote interaction with partners and investors. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3464 of Wednesday June 04, 2025