Cameroon:Actors Forestall Challenges Of Structural Transformation

Officials from the central and devolved services of the Economy Ministry have identified possibilities of circumventing the numerous challenges faced in the implementation of the National Development Strategy.

They held talks within the frame work of a working dialogue between the central and peripheral structures of the Ministry.

Chaired by Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, the session unfolded under the theme: "Challenges Of the Structural Transformation of the Cameroonian Economy."

It was built around subjects of key importance to the development of Cameroon such as the import substitution policy, the tools required for the implementation as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the new National Development Strategy. These key actors were given the required tools needed to ensure a progressive monitoring and evaluation of the strategy.

On the other hand, these exchanges enabled heads of the central and devolved services of the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development who are directly involved in the import substitution drive, to fully internalise the issues at hand. Facilitators, took participants into the overall logic behind the principle and above all the contribution that is expected of them.

On his part,the Head of Division for Economy Policy Analysis at the Economy Ministry, Mendo Paulin, said the desired transformation can come if industrial transformation efforts are streamlined to meet target objectives.

“It is an issue of rendering our production processes more effective and productive through modern and industrialised processes that can change the face of our economy like some industrialised countries in the likes of South Korea and Singapore. The import substitution strategy is an effective tactic that has been implemented by several other countries. It seeks to replace the importation of goods and services with those that can be produced locally. Through this, you boost the local economy and save money,”the Economy Policy Analysis expert said.

On his part, Saïdou Hamadou, Service Head for Economic Prospective at the same Ministrysaid the role of local actors cannot be underestimated.

“To implement the National Development Strategy at the local level, we have to use Regional and Communal plans. During the elaboration of these documents, the community leaders have to make sure that they align to the four pillars of the National Development Strategy,” the official stressed.