A solemn ceremony for the handing over of the development works, materials and equipment of promote 2014 to the conference centre took place in Yaounde on Thursday 03 September 2015.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Y’de
 |
| Christophe Mien Zok presents handed over equipment to PM’s representative Culture Minister Ama Tutu Muna |
Speaking on the occasion, the general manager of the Yaounde Conference Centre, Christophe Mien Zok, said all the installations, equipment and materials of Promote 2014 are property of the state of Cameroon because it was the state that financed their acquisition through a credit of 2.5 billion from the BGFI bank.
However, Mien Zok explained that following this handing over ceremony, the conference centre now becomes the custodian and manager of the property.
He noted that the solemn handing over ceremony vividly illustrates the fruitful collaboration between the Fondation Inter-Progress (FIB) that organizes the promote Fair, and the Yaounde conference centre that hosts the biennal event.
The installations, materials and equipments handed over included 4 expansive halls for exposition, accessories for 400 exposition stands, air conditioning equipment, 1500 chairs, 500 seats for conferences, 119 tables for roundtable and rectangular conferences, 50 public lighting lamps, maintenance equipment and equipment for video, sound and lighting.
Thus, by handing over the management of the Promote 2014 installations and equipment to the Conference Centre, the government of Cameroon has concretised its resolve to diversify the missions of the Conference Centre from just hosting conferences to becoming a veritable centre for business, tourism and amusement.
So, apart from hosting conferences in the somptuous halls in the main buildings on the top-most slopes of the Centre, and the Promote Fair on its lower slopes, the Conference Centre will now also provide the best venue for other diverse events and ceremonies:- weddings, trade fairs, picnics, church rallies, amusement visits etc.
Also, with the new development, the conference centre has not only expanded its sources of revenue, it has also greatly increased its hosting capacity as well as the quality and quantity of its services.
“This handing over ceremony marks a turning point in our road towards innovation; it is a decisive step in our modernization drive,” said Chritophe Mien Zok, who seized the opportunity to thank government for its multi-form support to the Conference Centre, and the FIP for the fruitful and reinforced collaboration.
For her part, the representative of Mr. Pierre Zumback, the promoter of FIP, noted the excellent relations and the interesting history of adventures shared between FIP and the Conference Centre.
She said ever since President Paul Biya asked for the Promote Fair to become perennial, FIP and the Conference Centre have not had any period of rest; they have continued working to improve the standards of the Promote, “and there is still much to be done in that direction.”
It emerged also that, unlike the past editions of the Promote that were held in December, the 6th edition in 2016 will take place in the month of February. Authorities of FIP explained that the change was informed by the very charged calendar of activities to be hosted at the Conference Centre in December.
It also emerged that the famous YAFE Festival that has always taken place at the 20 May Boulevard in Yaounde every December, will now be moved to the lower slopes of the Conference Centre.
“The conference centre offers the ideal environment not only for the Promote Fair but also for any exposition festivals that aim to meet international standards,” noted Pierre Zumback, FIP Promoter.
The handing over ceremony was witnessed by at least seven government ministers, apart from the CPDM scribe Jean Kuete, senators, MPs and foreign dignitaries.
No comments:
Post a Comment