To foster local dev't: Investment Promotion Agency, UCCC sign strategic MoU.

This was during a conference IPA organised on the sidelines of the 3rd edition of the International Economic Forum, JEICOM, which took place in Yaounde from June 2 to 4. The conference was on the theme: "The IPA at the service of cities and councils... for territorial development". 

MoU to empower councils for local investment

Speaking at the conference, IPA’s Interim General Manageer highlighted the strong and evolving relationship between IPA and UCCC. He noted the increasing powers granted to mayors under the country’s strong decentralisation efforts, which also enables them to carry out investments in their various cities and councils. 

Boma stressed that the MoU's core objective is to equip councils with the tools and knowledge to initiate and manage their investment projects, even enabling them to create special initiatives for this purpose.

According to the interim GM, IPA's traditional role, which is attracting foreign direct investment and promoting Cameroon as an investment destination, is now expanding to provide a collaborative framework for mayors. Boma clarified that IPA is leveraging the 2013 law that offers incentives for private investment to both local and foreign entities. 

"The nexus of our discussion was on how we help mayors carry out projects and benefit from these incentives that are inside the law," he explained.

According to Boma Donatus, a key aspect of this collaboration is to raise awareness among mayors about the existing investment incentives and to facilitate their access to potential investors. 

He cited the example of Yoko Council in the Centre Region, with its extensive forests as a prime opportunity for investment. Boma disclosed that IPA aims to connect such councils with investors who cannot only engage in sustainable forestry practices, but also establish industries for producing value-added products like furniture for export, thereby promoting import substitution.

"Our message to councils is if you have projects, let's have them. Let's see how we can help you look for financing for you or grant you incentives or see how we can advise better on how you can effectively get your project off the ground," Boma affirmed. 

Enter UCCC President 

On his part, the President of the UCCC, Augustin Tamba, expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya for establishing instruments like IPA, which facilitate investment attractiveness in Cameroon. 

He stated that the MoU is a stepping stone for future partnership and cooperation between the two institutions, crucial for achieving Cameroon's 2030 development objectives. "We must act, and above all, we must act together," Tamba remarked.

The Mayor of Buea, David Mafani Namange Esq., echoed these same sentiments, highlighting that councils are increasingly becoming centre of production. 

He noted that while councils are dynamic, a common challenge is the lack of finances. According to Namange, the partnership with IPA is expected to open doors and provide the necessary financial avenues to implement production at the local level, ultimately contributing to import substitution.

Waste management: key area for collaboration

Discussions at the conference also touched on waste management in urban and rural areas, which remains a priority for councils. Experts and entrepreneurs, who were present, shared insights on potential collaborations. 

Ali Chaabi, the Director General of Ecogreen, an enterprise that recycles plastic waste, disclosed plans to expand into cardboard and paper production. 

According to Chaabi, Ecogreen actively collaborates with local collectors, purchasing sorted waste for recycling and transformation, and encourages young entrepreneurs to form groups for collection, offering equipment and purchasing their collected materials. He further expressed readiness to collaborate and work with councils.

Also present was Boma Mohammed Chi, a waste management expert, who highlighted his organisation's work in training councils and communities in Cameroon and Nigeria on managing organic waste for biogas and biochar production. 

“Waste is treasure, waste is gold. We have been using waste to produce things,” Chi stated. He expressed readiness to partner with councils and welcome investors to eradicate waste in towns and cities, emphasising that successful waste management is a collective effort involving the population, councils, and the government.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3465 of Thursday June 05, 2025