Cameroon Doing Business Forum: PM Recommends Strict Follow-up, Implementation of Recommendations

 By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaounde
Prime Minister and Head of Government has said that the government will ensure strict implementation and follow-up of the Doing Business in Cameroon roadmap adopted to ease business transactions in the country.
    Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute made the statement after chairing deliberations at the 11th session of the Cameroon Business Forum which held in Yaoundé Thursday 22 October 2020.  The session was under the theme “COVID-19: proofing the business environment”.
    “…A number of exposes were given out to us. They were very rich and the debate that followed also was very intense and rich. It has enabled us design a road map that will be put into operation. We will roll it out under the supervision of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya and we expect that in the coming months, the reforms that have been suggested would effectively take place and make our economy stronger,” Dion disclosed at the end of the session.
    He explained that the session held out of Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic which equally restricted the attendance of the over 500 participants it usually have from all sectors of the private sector and government officials.
The adopted 2020/2021 doing business in Cameroon roadmap stressed on improvements in the creation of businesses, access to electricity, transfer of property, cross border trade among others.
    The PM in his keynote address while calling on all stakeholders to contribute at their individual levels towards ameliorating the economic situation, disclosed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had serious consequences on the business sector, leaving enterprises to suffer enormous losses.
    He told participants that from the last session in Douala, government has implemented a number of recommendations to fluidity business transactions in the country including the digitalization of procedures and the acquisition of naval vessels by the Douala Port Authority among others.
    The President of the Cameroon Employers Union (GICAM), Celestin Tawamba used the session to plead for a more subtly taxation policy to accompany the private sector in the recovery process.
    Ministers Lous Paul Motaze and Alamine Ousmane Mey of Finance and the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, respectively underscored the importance of the incentives put in place by government to support the private sector. Both ministers presented perspectives for growth for the economy after the health crisis. 
    The forum also featured an exchange session during which participants and members of government discussed on ways of improving the business atmosphere, accelerating files and settlement of litigations, incorporating online solutions to business problems and protecting investors.