Gov’t seeks private sector participation to attain SND30 objectives.

This was the focus of the MINEPAT-Private Sector Restricted Consultation Meeting that held in Douala, on Thursday, 30 March.

Paul Tasong, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, in charge of Planning who chaired the consultation meeting, told reporters that they engaged the stakeholders with the aim to see how Cameroon as a nation could achieve the aspirations contained in the SND30.

The Minister Delegate singled out the Cameroon Businessmen Employers Association, GICAM; heads of business corporations and officials of the different administrations in Douala for taking out time to discuss on how best the country can achieve the development targets.

Following the discussions, the Minister Delegate said they came to a consensus as to which areas the local private sector could make optimum contribution so as to attain the objective of structurally transforming the state economy, as outlined in the SND30.

Specifically, the government presented a blue print for the creation of more wealth to the business men and women, as well as the basic orientations of import substitution as outlined in the strategic development document.

They also identified specific economic sectors and their principal local actors; before looking into possibilities of encouraging the actors to do more towards realising the aspirations of the SND30.

Tasong stressed the importance of sustainable action in different sectors so as to reduce Cameroon’s dependence on other countries from where Cameroonian business men and women import both consumables and industrial products.

The government official saluted the resilience of the country’s private sector during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic; adding that the operators further proved this resilience when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, precipitating serious disruptions in international chains for grain imports from that part of the world.

He pledged the readiness of the government to provide whatever support private sector operators need to ease their contribution in realising the aspirations of the SND30.

Minister Tasong further revealed that the mixed import substitution and promotion of exports policy, is a political economic strategy that the state must not fail at achieving. 

Other speakers at the event threw more light on issues of taxation and fiscality; land and property ownership; as well as avenues of sourcing for funds.

A focal point was made on sub sectors like fishing and self-sufficiency in fish products; rice production; milk and animal breeding; oil palm production; wood and wood processing; production of wheat and wheat flour; as well as metals. 

On his part, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Crafts, Christophe Eken, saluted the initiative of the government, urging all to play their part so that the resolutions reached at the end of the meeting could be implemented to the letter.