local andinternational Demand rises, both ’s agricultural products tax base” tax to broaden broaden to “New ways ways “New Fatoing: Mopa Modeste

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Yasmine Bahri-Domon

Proud of our local products

“We must learn to consume what we produce and produce what we consume,” recently declared Paul Biya in a speech to the nation.

The leader’s words are now taking shape it appears. Indeed, local commodities, which were uncared for over a long period, are more relied upon to supply our industry. Let’s take for example U.K Brewer Diageo, owner of Guinness, which has raised its yearly purchase of local raw materials, namely cassava, sorghum and maize; from 2,700 tons to 17,000 tons. A move which should significantly boost our farmers’ revenues.

Also riding on the same waves are local products such as Penja’s pepper or soy. Looking at this, sustainable economic partnerships between the various actors of the sector must be developed.

Industrial firms have already understood how bene- ficial it is to integrate our products into their pro- duction chain and though it is still timid, this change is gradually integrated into the habits of economic operators and consumers.

Obviously, the State and banking sector must, at their respective level, increase the number of projects for the processing of our products, attract industrial firms, while encouraging local producers and better inform consumers about qualities of local commodi- ties. Doing this will help more local products, “made in Cameroon”, find their way to supermarket shelves, and subsequently reduce dependence on imports.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 4

CONTENTS

FOCUS FOCUS ON TAX

08 • A race to boost local input 14 • Modeste Mopa Fatoing : “Besides consolidating these achievements, we will in the coming 09 • After Cameroon-coffee based Nescafé, Nestlé years, keep exploring new ways to broaden wishes to integrate Penja’s pepper in its Maggi tax base” cube formula 10 • Camlait injected CFA3 billion in yogurt factory, BUSINESS IN CAMEROON made with local soy Publisher Stratline Limited 10 • SABC consumes 20% SOSUCAM’s output, as it purchases 30,000 tons of sugar every year Publication Director Yasmine BAHRI-DOMON 12 •  Guinness Cameroon’s demand for local Contributors products to reach 17,000 tons in 2018 Brice R. MBODIAM, Sylvain ANDZONGO, Idriss LINGE. 12 • Three million CFA injected into a sorghum Operator Médiamania Sàrl production project www.mediamania.pro Design : Jérémie FLAUX, Web : Christian ZANARDI, 13 • Government initiates CFA50 billion project to Translation : Schadrac AKINOCHO, Bérénice BAH

supply agribusinesses with maize, sorghum Advertisement and cassava [email protected] In Cameroon Albert MASSIMB, [email protected] LEADER OF THE MONTH Tel : 00 237 694 66 94 59

Printing 34 • Nadine Tinen has Rotimpres, Aiguaviva, Espagne been appointed Circulation as the Regional Albert MASSIMB, [email protected] Senior Partner of Tel : 00 237 694 66 94 59 PwC in the French- Free – cannot be sold speaking Sub- Saharan Africa www.businessincameroon.com - [email protected]

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 5

NEWS IN BRIEF

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT P 17-21 MINING P 29

FINANCE P 22-23 INDUSTRY P 30-31

AGRIBUSINESS P 24-27 ITC & TELECOM P 32

ENERGY P 28 SERVICES P 33

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 6 THE CAST PAUL ZAMBO

Paul Zambo, ICT expert and proponent of Arintech Cameroon, was one of the panelists of the high level conference held on January 24, 2018 at the national high school of posts, telecommunication and ICT (Sup’Ptic) in Yaoundé. During the conference held under the theme “new telecommunication environments and challenges to digital economy”, he commented the controversial gift of Cameroon’s president who gave 500,000 laptops to the country’s students. “I am generally very judgmental. But, I can tell you that it is an extraordinary project because such a project is a trigger. 500,000 young students with 500,000 laptops, is an innova- tive project. Why? Because these young people need to be channeled towards the future and, actually, IT is the world’s future”, he said.

PHILÉMON ZOO ZAME

On January 16, 2018, Philémon Zoo Zame, director of Cameroon’s telecommunication regulatory agency (ART), published a statement informing the telecommunication operators of the deterioration of the quality of their services over the past few weeks. “The actions taken on the platforms have shown a high call failure rate, frequent communication problems and a dete- riorating sound quality”, he explained. The official also in- formed that the agency was ready to take the regulatory measures required in such circumstances. Let’s note that on October 27, 2017, the first audit of elec- tronic communication in the country revealed a “continuing deterioration of the quality of service”.

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 7

ZACHARIE DR TAÏGA PEREVET

Cameroon wants to create 108 000 jobs through the Green In 2018, Cameroon’s minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Jobs Promotion Project (Programme de promotion des Animal Industries will focus on protecting the health of emplois verts – PPEV) which is currently being elaborat- small ruminants by multiplying actions in favor of the op- ed by the ministry of employment and vocational training. erators in that sector, according to Dr. Taïga, the minister. This programme aims to fight unemployment and pre- In that regard, on January 19, 2018, when his collabora- serve environment. tors where extending their new year’s greetings to him, In preparation for its implementation (2018-2022), the he instructed all the decentralized services of the minis- government has just launched a call for interest in order try to intensify the fight against small ruminants’ viral in- to prequalify the local cabinets which will participate fections. The minister insisted particularly on sheep and in the restricted tender for the mapping of green jobs in goat plague which kills up to 90% of the animals infected Cameroon. in Cameroon, most of the time. “It is clear that we need to draft a nomenclature and a map- ping of green jobs to better initiate the PPEV”, says Zacharie Perevet, the minister of employment and vocational training.

FREDERIK PHILISIWÉ KLINKE SIBIYA

The volume of activities at the International On January 31, 2018, South-African chartered accountant Terminal (DIT), concessionaire of Douala port’s container Philisiwé Sibiya, has officially left her position as the gen- terminal, has nearly tripled within 12 years. eral manager of MTN Cameroon. She was the first wom- This has been revealed on January 12, 2018, in Douala, by an to have ever managed the firm, which is the leader of Frederik Klinke, managing director of DIT, on the sidelines Cameroon’s mobile market. of a labor and honor medal ceremony during which Klinke Philisiwé Sibiya’s career at MTN International thus comes awarded 77 of his collaborators. to an end as she also left the company. Indeed, from 131,994 containers TEU (twenty-foot equiva- Throughout her office in Cameroon (3 years), major invest- lent units) handled at the terminal in 2005, at the start of ments were made in the country to deploy 4G and extend its concession, the company handled about 386,500 con- the 3G network. The company has also resumed its spon- tainers TEU in 2017. This is up more than 190% and, thanks soring of the national football championship, and more to this, the company makes about CFA55 billion turnover importantly, it remained the number one operator despite nowadays. its rivals having won over some market shares.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 8 FOCUS A race to boost local input

Food self-sufficiency has, if one may mined to reduce imports, by relying African Republic, , Congo and recall, been at the center of many on local input. Nigeria) and especially from agribusi- political debates back in the 80s. In fact, Cameroon which once nesses, could become the breadbas- At the time, authorities wanted to boasted of being food self-suffi- ket of Central Africa, why not the provide populations with a sufficient cient now appears as a major food whole of Africa. To do this, it could agricultural output, in order to satisfy importer. For example, in 2015 alone, exploit its 25% of arable lands. households’ consumption. Ten years Cameroon has, according to the min- Fortunately, that is the goal of the later, Cameroon achieved this goal, ister of industry, Ernest Gwaboubou, Industrialization Master Plan (PDI) effectively becoming a self-sufficient imported 1.388 million tons of food adopted by the government in 2017. nation, in regard to food. products, for more than FCFA800 One of the pillars of the PDI is the However, for some time now, this billion, thus exceeding, for the first development of local agroindustry, self-sufficiency is compromised time, oil and clinker imports (1.294 which mainly aims at boosting the by demographic growth (while million tons and 1.323 million tons availability of raw materials, that agricultural production stagnates), respectively). firms operating in the country are a growing demand from neighbor- Yet, the country, which the strong de- eying more and more. ing countries, and demand from mand from locals and its neighbors agro-industries which are deter- (, , Central Brice R. Mbodiam

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 FOCUS 9

After Cameroon-coffee based Nescafé, Nestlé wishes to integrate Penja’s pepper in its Maggi cube formula

Finally, after launching the process four years ago, Nestlé Cameroon, subsidiary of the eponymous Swiss agrofood giant, has officially start- ed selling, Jan. 29, 2015, its Nescafé drink made with Cameroonian coffee. Now, the firm wants to add Penja’s pepper to ingredients of its Maggi cube. This will provide great opportuni- ties to those producing this pepper which is labelled in Cameroon. Truly, Maggi cube alone it should be noted, represents 90% of pro- duction at Nestlé’s plant in Douala (the only one in Central Africa). Overall, the plant with all its prod- ucts (Maggi cube, Nido sachets, Nescafé) generates CFA5 billion of revenues monthly, across all the six CEMAC States that are Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea. The Penja project will however require a boost in the production of this spice which comes from Penja, in the coastal region of Cameroon. Indeed, about 70 tons of pepper are officially produced every year in Cameroon. Out of this volume, around 40 tons are produced by the Société des plantations du haut Penja (PHP) while the remaining 30 tons come from village farms. Due to the great local demand, barely 15 tons of Penja’s pepper are exported In fact, presently, 84% of input used two salt-producing firms based in every year, despite a strong demand at Nestlé’s plant in Douala, as well Douala. It has already reached out for the spice at the international as 59% of packaging used for con- to the two firms in this framework. level. ditioning the company’s products, As for the starch, it eyes the pro- Nestlé Cameroon’s drive to inte- are imported. The imports mostly duction of the Sangmélima cassava grate more local products in its comprise cassava starch (1,500- processing company (Sotramas) production chain falls in line with a 1,800 tons per year, for CFA300 which is yet to be commissioned, project that aims to purchase about million) and cooking salt, which are due to major structural and man- 75% of its plant’s input locally, both used to make Maggi cube. agement challenges. Sotramas, it sources at the firm revealed. This In regards to these two ingredients, should be noted, plans to process would result in cutting the firm’s Nestlé Cameroon plans to get 100% into starch, 120 tons of cassava, on imports by 70%. of the cooking salt it needs from a daily basis.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 10 FOCUS

Camlait injected CFA3 billion in yogurt factory, made with local soy

With competition getting ruder in as competitors settle down in the long at an expensive cost. Cameroon’s yogurt market, nota- run. To thrive in this context and face Proof of the success of soy-based bly since the arrival of companies competition, we are forced to explore yogurt is the success of the “River” such as Dolait or Royal Crown, other growth opportunities”, said yogurt which received on September Cameroon’s dairy products company Paulin Toukam Zuko, CEO Camlait, 13, 2016, the African organization (Camlait) has decided to diversify its who adds that production costs for for intellectual property’s (Oapi) first products, by adding to its range of soy yogurt are 50% lower than for Grand Prix Award. This was during yogurt products yogurt made with milk yogurt. the first edition of a contest organ- soy produced locally. In this frame- Actually, Camlait’s move is quite ized by Oapi, in partnership with work, official sources reveal, the firm strategic considering that it plans for Cameroon’s Inter Patronal Groupings has invested CFA3 billion into a new 65% of its turnover to be generated (GICAM), rewarding a product or production chain. from soy-based products. A smart service with a good reputation in the “Growth (demand for yogurt grows decision knowing that soy is pro- country. by 25% a year, editor’s note) is such duced locally while milk is imported SABC consumes 20% SOSUCAM’s output, as it purchases 30,000 tons of sugar every year

Every year, Société anonyme des (SABC), local subsidiary of the Castel group, buys 30,000 tons of granulated sugar from Société sucrière du Cameroun (SOSUCAM). This was disclosed by the leader of the local market. With the volumes it purchases, SABC, alone, consumes 20% of the output Somdiaa’s Cameroonian subsidiary, which by the way supplies about 55,000- 60,000 tons of sugar to agribusinesses across the country, each year. SABC also contributes a lot to the revenues of Maïserie du Cameroun (Maïscam), which is located in the Northern part of Cameroon. Indeed, it buys the whole corn grits production of the firm, evey year, that is 10,000 tons. Despite all these local acquisitions, SABC still imports some of the input it needs, due to a low national output ; this as the latter is supposed to satisfy both de- mands of agribusinesses and households.

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018

12 FOCUS

Guinness Cameroon’s demand for local products to reach 17,000 tons in 2018

Guinness Cameroon, subsidiary of main commodities used by Guinness was financed by the World Bank British agrofood company Diago, Cameroon. While making the an- (FCFA50 billion), and aims to boost will see its demand for local prod- nouncement, Pouth had said : “Works local cassava, sorghum and maize ucts it uses to make both alcoholic are ongoing to install a cooker at our production, to supply agribusi- and non-alcoholic drinks (Guiness, plant, to use local input like sorghum, nesses, such as brewers, across the Guiness Smooth, Malta Guiness, maize and cassava, more”. country. Harp, etc.) soar significantly this In the same framework, Guinness “We wish to, by 2018, get most of the year ; from 2,700 tons in 2014 to Cameroon was, as one may recall, raw materials we need locally. Our to- 17,000 tons. the first agribusiness company tal investment up till then will exceed This was disclosed in July 2015 by to sign with the government on two billion CFA, and it will be spent Christian Pouth, Corporate Relations December 17, 2013, Yaoundé, a part- to get the necessary human resourc- Director at Diageo Central and nership agreement falling under the es and technology for our project’s West Africa. It is good news for Investment-Development Project success,” Pouth said at the time. the country’s sorghum, maize and aimed at Agricultural Markets cassava farmers as these are the (PIDMA). The latter, a 5-year project, Three million CFA injected into a sorghum production project Diageo’s Cameroonian subsidiary has injected CFA3 billion into an investment program it initiated in 2009 in the Northern part of the country, to boost sorghum produc- tion. This was revealed during a cor- porate visit carried out by the brewer on November 4, 2014 in Douala. Through this investment, the firm, which is number two of Cameroon’s alcoholic drinks market (Brasseries du Cameroun is the leader), intend- ed to bring down its raw materials imports; from 80% to 50% in 2015. In details, the firm plans to gradually substitute the cereals it imports, like malt, with local products, such as sorghum. Regarding the latter, Guinness, since 2009, has purchased between 250 and 400 tons of the grain from farmers in the North of Cameroon, according to Mariam Haman Adama, Coordinator of the regional council of farmers associations in Northern Cameroon (CROPSEC).

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 FOCUS 13

Government initiates CFA50 billion project to supply agribusinesses with maize, sorghum and cassava

Cameroon’s government and World sorghum (30,000 tons) and cassava granted to farmers associated to the Bank have launched for the 2014- (1.4 million tons). Regarding the project remain high and the loans take 2019 period a CFA50bn project which funding structure, each benefiting time before being disbursed”. aims at financing the PIDMA, steered project will get 50% of its financing During the same meeting, it was by the ministry of agriculture. These as subsidy provided under the revealed that farmers’ cooperatives monies will mainly be injected in programme, while beneficiaries will benefiting from the project fail technical and financial support, and personally provide 10% and secure to meet their obligations, due to benefit actors of the maize, sorghum remaining 40% from a group of banks organizational challenges. Same for and cassava sectors. partnering the project. partnering agribusinesses. “Some According to PIDMA’s managers, Let it be noted however that in 2017, committed to buy tons of maize at the project will in effect enable its during a meeting held in the frame- a price of CFA200/kg. Today, with beneficiaries to negotiate in advance work of the project, two of those market price at CFA160/kg, they let supply contracts with agribusinesses lenders exited the programme. These farmers down and go buy elsewhere”, and other potential buyers, before are Afriland First Bank and Ecobank’s said PIDMA’s coordinator. The starting production. This insures subsidiary, PIDMA revealed without project affects 120,000 Cameroonian that their output will be purchased, giving any other details. “Only left are farmers and their families. but also assure a certain level of SGC (Société générale Cameroun) revenues. and BICEC (subsidiary of BPCE BRM Started in 2014, PIDMA aims at group, editor’s note)”, said Thomas satisfying annual demand of agro-in- Ngue Bissa, PIDMA’s coordinator dustries in maize (200,000 tons), before adding: “interest rates on loans

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 14 FOCUS ON TAX

Modeste Mopa Fatoing : “Besides consolidating these achievements, we will in the coming years, keep exploring new ways to broaden tax base”

After about a decade of fiscal break, Looking at all these, was the tax tax, wood logs export tax) and others characterized by the non-introduc- break supposed to be maintained? were just reformed (car stamp tax, tion of new taxes and no increase Yes!, claim business owners who airport tax, land tax, etc.). Behind all of existing ones, the Cameroonian ask for a deeper reform of taxes in these amendments are two offices : government has decided since 2016, Cameroon. According to the employ- the tax and customs. However, it is to raise pressure on companies in the ers’ association, GICAM, its president the tax office that implemented the country. This in a gloomy local and to be specific, it would be smarter to most reforms, thus keeping its status global economic context. “change fiscal paradigm”, by putting as main public revenues provider. businesses at the heart of economic Truly, at the international level, development, instead of considering since 2015, the country, like many them as mere milking cows. others, suffers the global drop in crude’s price, which caused it to An opinion that is not shared by pub- lose oil revenues. This is noting lic authorities it appears, knowingly that the black gold used to contrib- the Director General of Taxes, who ute to 25% of Cameroon’s budget a few months ago, during a yearly revenues. conference regrouping top officials from the ministry of finances, de- At the national level, in addition to clared that tax pressure in Cameroon the various construction projects was lower than the average in Africa. launched in 2012, Cameroon’s public Actually, since two years now, some treasury has to spend a lot to fight of the taxes that had been suppressed the Boko Haram terrorist group in were reinstated (such as the 5% tax the Far-North, and secure the border on rice import), and new ones were it shares with the Central African introduced (gambling tax, tax on fur- Republic, in the Eastern region. To nished apartments and hotel stays, these, add the enforcement of the excise duty on electronic communi- Economic Partnership Agreements cation, etc.). In a context where the (EPA) with the European Union. State was facing many challenges. Over nearly two years now, these Modeste Mopa Fatoing: “In 2018, the DGI must capture CFA1,845 billion, of non-oil tax revenues, have been causing Cameroon’s tax In the same order of thoughts, some and CFA91,5 billion from oil firms.” earnings to dwindle. taxes were revalorized (airport stamp

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 FOCUS ON TAX 15

“A total of CFA1,936 billion or 61% of the State’s own revenues which are expected to stand at CFA3,175 billion this year”, reminds Modeste Mopa Fatoing.

In this interview, we discuss, with Alamine Ousmane Mey, is primarily how to do this when airport stamp the director-general of taxes (DGI), consolidate our achievements, that tax for international flights (whose reforms implemented so far and is reforms that helped us achieve the collection was transferred to airlines challenges that are still to be tackled positive performances that we recorded back in 2015) was increased (From by Cameroon’s tax administration. over the past few years. For example, CFA20,000 to CFA25,000), while for the recently ended year, the DGI, passengers bought tickets before As it has been the case over many despite a difficult environment, was the increase and can still travel with years now, goals set by the directo- able to collect up to CFA1,734 billion of those same tickets after the revalori- rate general of taxes (DGI also) have non-oil taxes, against an initial target zation ? “As it was done in the past in been scaled up for 2018. An increase of CFA1,719 billion. The tax office was the event of such changes, authorities that can be concretized despite the thus able to exceed its goals, which is have put in place transitory meas- actual economic situation of the proof of how robust the Cameroonian ures not to penalize people that had country, a gloomy one that is. “In tax system is. Besides consolidating already bought their flight ticket before January 1, 2018. No additional cost will be inputted to the ticket until the “Improve the quality of services rendered end of Q1 2018. That is until March to populations ?” 31, 2018, no additional payment will be asked any traveler falling in this c a t e g o r y,” said Modeste Mopa, whose 2018, the DGI must capture CFA1,845 these achievements, we will in the office affirm that revenues generated billion, of non-oil tax revenues, and coming years, keep exploring new ways by this tax, following the reform, CFA91,5 billion from oil firms. That to broaden tax base, reinforce tax have been on the up slope. makes a total of CFA1,936 billion or control to better fight fraud and boost 61% of the State’s own revenues which capacity to collect tax arrears. But most Yet, the reform that is talked about are expected to stand at CFA3,175 importantly, we will focus on improving most at the tax directorate in the billion this year”, says Modeste Mopa the quality of services offered to popu- past years is the land tax. Not only Fatoing. l a t i o n s ,” the head of the tax directorate because it is new but because of its continued. potential. To increase the number “What we plan to do, both I and the my of people paying this tax, the tax staff, with support from our overseeing Improve the quality of services office first opted for a door-to-door minister, the minister of finances, rendered to populations ? Yes, but approach, using pre-filled statements

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 16 FOCUS ON TAX

that it would distribute from one home to the other. Later, all those who decided to register for the first time to this tax’s registry benefited from an amnesty on outstanding arrears. Finally, land tax was the first tax that could be paid via mobile transfer in Cameroon.

Presently, though the government discarded the tax authority sugges- tion to combine this tax’s payment to that of monthly electricity bill, “all the reforms implemented helped significantly boost the number of tax- payers as well as revenues generated by land tax. Works are ongoing to improve this tax’s efficiency and also its collection. In the years to come, it will actually be, in terms of resources, the central pillar of decentralization. Indeed, proceeds generated by this tax are fully paid to the decentralized territorial communities (CTD in French),” said the DGI.

SECURING REVENUES Another tax, besides land tax and airport stamp, that helped boost revenues of the Cameroonian public treasury, is the car vignette. Indeed, “the reform on this tax has allowed authorities, in 2017, to save a lot of money previously spent to Modest Mopa Fatoing: “all the reforms implemented helped significantly boost the number of taxpayers as order vignettes, which at times would well as revenues generated by land tax.” be falsified by users. Moreover, the tax, throughout the eleven months of 2017, generated CFA8.2 billion of rev- In addition to boosting tax revenues, ly in the mid-term. Globally also, the enues, far above amounts generated the reforms, according to the DGI commitment of our administration in years preceding its reform. Noting (office), also aim at securing these against fraud and our involvement that under the reform, administra- revenues, by digitizing procedures, with groups sharing that goal are tive vehicles are fully exonerated a move which according to Modeste palpable. I would in this regard wish to from the tax, thus resulting in a Mopa Fatoing, “reduces bad prac- recall that the 10th edition of the Global significant shortfall in revenues, tices” within the tax administration Forum on Transparency and Exchange one can very much understand the often denounced by anti-corruption of Information for Tax Purposes was forecast made for its revenues which organizations. However, tax officers held in Yaoundé, in November 2017. stand at CFA9.5 billion, this year, are not the only one known for giving This meeting, I should emphasize, is when it will be fully implemented into these practices. Actually, compa- the most important gathering focused (…) So I would like to, on behalf of nies also excel at that craft, through on tax issues worldwide,” said the authorities, thank all insurance various frauds. head of Cameroon’s general tax firms, which in the framework of a office. “Organized in partnership with constructive partnership, one similar Here also, the DGI has mustered the OECD, the forum gave rise to the to the one we wish to have with the many efforts to tackle this challenge Yaoundé Call which will surely hold a private sector, that collaborated over the recent years. “Internally, the major place in the global fight against with us to insure the success of this strong cooperation between the tax fraud and tax evasions,” he added. reform,” said the Director General of and customs offices opens new paths the Tax Office. to fight fraud and reduce it significant- Brice R. Mbodiam

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 17 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Government conducts audit to determine the amount it owes SMEs On January 25, 2018, Alamine Ousmane Mey, Cameroon’s minister of finance revealed that an audit was being conducted to determine the amount government owes SMEs. This was dur- ing a cabinet council held at the prime minister’s office in Yaoundé. At the end of that audit, the government should put in place a strategy to repay the debt which has been one of the focal points of the president’s New Year’s address on December 31, 2017. “The adverse global economic situation due notably to falling commodity prices has negatively impacted economic growth and social progress in our country. It has also caused treasury issues which have severely affected Government contractors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises”, Paul Biya admitted. “We will, in this regard, maintain our efforts to optimize public revenue collection and streamline public spend- ing. Special attention will be paid to the situation of SMEs, especially concerning the repayment of the debt owed them and improving their access to bank loans”, he continued.

19 Companies operating in Cameroon were eligible for CEMAC’s preferential tariff regime in 2017 In 2017, nineteen companies operat- munity”, revealed Achille Bassilekin, regime of CEMAC must respect a ing in Cameroon have been declared general secretary at the ministry required quota in industrial pro- eligible for the preferential tariff of commerce, during the New Year duction. For instance, they must be regime of CEMAC. 174 products are wishes presentation ceremony on produced with at least 40% of local concerned by this tariff. January 25, 2018, in Yaoundé. raw materials. “So, these products enjoy a zero cus- It should be noted that the products toms duty in the market of this com- which enjoy the preferential tariff

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 18 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

In 2018, tax authority plans to collect CFA91.5 billion from oil companies

In 2018, oil companies operating in Société nationale des hydrocarbu- revenues generated by SNH’s sales, in Cameroon should contribute a total res (SNH), State oil company, will the framework of production sharing of CFA91.5 billion in tax revenues, also pay CFA362 billion to the public contracts signed with oil majors according to Modeste Mopa Fatoing, treasury. operating in Cameroon. director of the national tax authority. This represents the projected oil

Cameroon open an escrow account at BEAC to guarantee the payment of VAT credits Cameroon’s government has finally association, for years. three months of tax accumulation. agreed to open an escrow account Elaborating, Alamine Ousmane Mey The government thus has to refund at the Bank of Central African States explained that thanks to the regular amount claimed within a two-month in order to guarantee the refund of funding of the above-mentioned regulatory period, but, this is rarely VAT credits to export firms. This account coupled with the reform on the case. was revealed on January 25, 2018, online submission and tracking of Due generally to financial difficulties, by the minister of finances Alamine VAT credit claims, Cameroon’s public Cameroon’s public treasury usually Ousmane Mey, during a council treasury was able to pay CFA82 goes without paying the funds, meeting. billion (VAT credits) to companies in for years at times. This can affect Automatic funding, monthly, 2017, against CFA56 billion in 2016. treasury of the companies which are, (as promised by the minister) of Indeed, according to Cameroon’s ironically, always seeking funding for this account, demanded for long applicable tax regulation, exports their expansion. by GICAM, will help reverse the firms, which are put in a position The opening of an escrow account by trend of non-payment of VAT of structural appropriation due to State should help reverse the trend credits which has been crippling the implementation of the 0% VAT that affect, not only firms, but the Cameroon’s largest inter-patron tax, must claim VAT refund after economy in whole.

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT 19

The committee of CEMAC encourages Moroccan economic investor to invest in the community

Arrived in Morocco January 27, 2018, distinguished guest in May 2017. and commerce which will densify Daniel Ona Ondo, president of the “Moroccan investors have reasserted the exchanges between CEMAC committee of CEMAC, met with their will to prospect business opportu- and Morocco. “The six member representatives of Fès chamber of nities in the Central African sub-re- states [Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, commerce. gion. In that regard, they have planned Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa Mohamed el Harti, deputy of Fès, and a series of official visits and meetings and Chad] being engaged in a vast Ahmed Sentissi, deputy chairman whose goals are clearly defined”, a economic diversification process, of the regional council, explained statement from the committee reads. Morocco represents a partner of choice to Daniel Ona Ondo that they To that assertion, Daniel Ona Ondo, in the implementation of this politic”, invited him following Fès - Meknès mentioned cooperation axis in he concluded. Economic Forum at which he was a sectors such as agriculture, tourism,

75 kg of amphetamine discovered in a container 75 Kg of amphetamine have just According to administrative docu- a Chinese, has been arrested and will been discovered in a container, from ments related to the contained, it be brought to court, according to China, by customs officers from contained mainly contains condoms Cameroon’s customs authorities. Littoral 2 sector in Douala, Quotidien and other goods. gouvernemental reveals. Suspected to be a dealer, the owner,

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 20 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Vignette reform enables tax office to collect CFA8.5 billion in 2017 Over the first eleven months of 2017, companies for collection. The director explained that apart Cameroon ‘s fiscal administration According to Modeste Mopa Fatoing, from the significant increase, costs has collected CFA8.5 billion as a re- director general of the tax administra- were saved by “stopping production of sult of a vignette reform entered into tion, who disclosed the figures, it is up automobile vignettes which were used force Jan. 1, 2017. The vignette fee by CFA1.5 billion compared what this as payment proof in the past”. was indeed transferred to insurance tax generated the year before. Government owes public companies more than CFA2,000 billion

“SOE debt levels rose significantly companies’ short-term debts which of the four SOEs have negative operat- (CFA2,262.7 billion) in 2016 to 17 per- represents 6% of GDP. ing margins”, the report revealed. The cent of GDP [$24.2 billion or about 73% of these short-term debts (about most important of those debts are CFA13,310 billion]”. This was stated CFA2 trillion) are owed by four owed to SONARA; Indeed, in 2015, in the Cameroon-focused report companies alone. These are SONARA, the government owed the oil refinery published by IMF on January 16, CAMTEL, CNIC, and PAD. company CFA1,860 billion. This debt 2018. As far as medium and long-term represents monies SONARA spent According to the fund, this increase debts are concerned, the most for more than 5 years to deal with the can be explained by a 290% rise of indebted are SONARA, CAMTEL, shortage of oil products at station SONARA’s debt. It also explained CAMWATER, and EDC. services during times of crisis. that the biggest threat to Cameroon’s “These debts represent significant con- budget is the magnitude of public tingent liabilities for the state, as three

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT 21

18 State-owned enterprises financially at risk, IMF says January 16, 2018, IMF revealed that percent, and average default ratio (eq- billion net loss in 2015 and in 2014 18 Cameroonian state-owned com- uity/share capital) of -4, a ratio of respectively. panies were financially at risk. The salaries to revenue of 100 percent (and The net loss of Cameroon Postal Bretton Woods institution disclosed to operating profit of 38 percent)”, the services (CAMPOST) was CFA1.271 this in its latest report on the country report revealed. billion and CFA2.9 billion in 2015 and published the same day. Before this report, it was known from in 2014 respectively. The fund did not name the said the 2017 finance law that 12 out of Cameroon Development companies but it indicated that the 28 state-managed enterprises Cooperation (CDC) also appeared in from the financial analysis and risk were regularly unprofitable. the hit-parade of these bottomless assessment of state-owned enterpris- First, let’s mention ANAFOR (Agence pits companies. The agribusiness es annexed to the 2018 finance law, it National des Forêts). In 2015, it had which is the second largest em- appeared that 14 of them were highly a -CFA31.185 million net result. The ployer after government registered unprofitable and 4 made little profit. result of the previous fiscal year CFA10.53 billion net loss in 2015. In Indeed, “In 2016, these 18 SOEs had was worse; standing at -CFA132.309 2014, it was CFA5.4 billion net loss an average debt-to-asset ratio of 66 million. and evidently, the company did not percent, an Operating profit ratio CAMAIR-Co on its part had pay any dividend to the government. (operating income to revenue) of -48 CFA10.101 billion and CFA17.318 Cameroon decreases the public investment budget by CFA294 billion for 2018

The journal of the projects included in the 2018 public investment budget has been published by Louis Paul Motaze, Cameroon’s minister of economy. The total amount dedi- cated to this budget is estimated at CFA1,292 billion in payment appro- priations. In 2017, it was CFA1,586 billion so, this represents a decrease by CFA294 billion between the two fiscal years. According to the minister, the eco- nomic environment marked by the shortage of resources and economic decline has been taken into account to elaborate the budget, thus the decrease. However, he promises a better execu- tion of the public investment budget whose execution rate is well below the expectation on many projects at the end of fiscal years. public fortune to ensure that public and praised, “the rigor in the manage- In that regard, on January 10, 2018, procurement contracts for 2018 are ment of the public fund” which has Abba Sadou, the minister of public awarded by the end of April 2018 at allowed a 53% execution rate for the procurement has signed a circular the latest. public investment budget in the first asking the various managers of All the same, in 2017, Paul Biya raised semester.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 22

FINANCE A national financial inclusion strategy to be set soon to facilitate access to banking loan for SMEs

“Stratégie nationale de la finance in- council held on January 25, 2018, in It should be reminded that on clusive” (National financial inclusion Yaoundé. December 31, 2017, during his new strategy) is Cameroon’s government He explained that the strategy should year’s address, Paul Biya promised to solution to remove the barriers for include all the actors in the financial take all the necessary steps for the the funding of companies by classic sector (banks, microfinance institu- payment of the debts government banks in Cameroon. tions, and assurance companies) and owes SMEs and explore ways to facil- Alamine Ousmane Mey, the minister even telecommunication operators itate their access to banking loans. of finance has emphasized the “need” whose mobile money service is to set such strategy during a cabinet booming.

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 FINANCE 23

BDEAC disburses more than CFA33 billion to fund projects in Cameroon, CAR, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea On January 24, 2018, the management board of the Development Bank of the Central African States (BDEAC) has approved five financing propos- als worth CFA33.125 billion. They have been approved during a board meeting held that day in Brazzaville, Congo, under the presidency of Fortunato Ofa Mbo Nchama. In Cameroon, the board agreed to disburse CFA800 million for the con- struction of the small Mbakaou hydro- electric plant. This infrastructure is the first of this type to be to be built by an independent producer and, it will be commissioned in October 2018. Mbakaou hydroelectric plant will allow 1,500 households in Adamaoua to have access to electricity. In Gabon, CFA20 billion has been allocated for the development of an infrastructure to store hydrocar- bons in Libreville by Gabon Global Logistics (GGL). CFA5 billion has also been allocated for the renovation and the board has agreed to disburse Finally, in Equatorial Guinea, CFA2.9 enlargement of PK 5 - PK 12 highway CFA4.5 billion for the creation of a billion has been allocated for the also in Libreville. palm oil agribusiness complex by construction of Mama Bang hospital As far as Central Africa is concerned, Palm d’Or. center in Bata.

BDEAC opens two credit lines with BADEA to support economic development within CEMAC On January 24, 2018, in Brazzaville, thanks to the fund obtained, BDEAC strategic plan is to concentrate the management board of will be able to support the projects its operational efforts to support the Development Bank of Central of SMEs and SMIs within CEMAC, member countries’ economic diver- African States (BDEAC) has reviewed especially those operating in various sification, finance major integration and approved the opening of two business sectors such as agriculture, projects and programmes and extend credit lines with the Arab Bank for agribusiness, fishing, breeding, the range of the bank’s development Economic Development in Africa industry, and trade with Arab tools aimed to support the private (BADEA) worth $35 million (about countries. sector’s development, SMEs and CFA20 billion). Let’s note that BDEAC’s new strate- SMIs especially. According to the management, gic vision defined in the 2017-2022

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 24

AGRIBUSINESS Atlantic Cocoa to build a cocoa processing unit in Kribi Autonomous Port

On January 24, 2018, Kribi of excellence in the cocoa production shipping lines to PAK has somehow Autonomous Port (PAK) and Atlantic basins in Cameroon, on 25,000 hec- affected our deadline and created Cocoa, subsidiary of Atlantic Group, tares”, he said. additional logistics costs. We expect has signed the first occupancy agree- Through this investment program, and we do hope that these major ment authorizing the cocoa compa- Koné Dossongui, the Ivorian mogul issues will be resolved in the coming ny to build a cocoa processing unit who owns Atlantic Cocoa, will invest days in order to let us start, peacefully, inside PAK, official sources revealed. CFA50 billion in Cameroon. the exploitation in the coming five According to Georges Wilson, However, the managing director of months”, Georges Wilson said. managing director of Atlantic Cocoa, Atlantic cocoa explained that though It should be recalled that the project the unit will be able to process 48,000 the construction works should start for the creation of an industrial tons of cocoa bean per year and, the soon, Atlantic group’s investment cocoa consortium in Cameroon has capacity is extensible to 64,000 tons. program faces some challenges. been announced on July 29, 2015, by He also explained that the CFA30 “To date, the journey has not been Koné Dossongui, during an audi- billion investment was just one of easy, with just partial obtention of tax ence with Cameroon’s minister of the investment program of Atlantic and customs exemptions and other economy. With the financial support Group in Cameroon. There is “also promised facilities. These challenges of BGFI Bank, the project is now in the development of industrial planta- affect our investment and financing its implementation phase. tions, including agricultural centres plan. The delay in the opening of

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 AGRIBUSINESS 25

The price of Cameroon’s wood has increased on the international market

The International Tropical Timber since January 1, 2018, in the frame- encourage the local wood processing Organization (ITTO) reveals that work of Cameroon’s 2018 finance which creates jobs. Cameroonian producers have law). Indeed, between 2016 and 2018, Let’s note that since 2011, wood increased the wood’s selling price in this duty has increased from 17,5% (both sawn and raw) is the most non- the international market. It reports to 30%. oil product exported in Cameroon. this in its January 2018 sectoral According to fiscal experts, by Indeed in its different reports, the report. The organization also reveals repeatedly increasing this tax, national port authority (APN) reveals that if for the time being the increase Cameroon government wants not that most of the times, the volumes is not substantial, it could rise only to increase its tax and customs exported exceeds 50% of the total further in the coming weeks. revenues, in a context marked by exports, crude oil excluded. This increase follows the rise of the generalized decline in public exports duties on raw log (into force revenues but, above all, it wants to

In 2017, the turnover of PHP has decreased to stand at CFA70.76 billion Plantations du Haut-Penja (PHP), requested the minister of economy, it to reach an annual production of informs that in 2017, its turnover Louis Paul Motaze, to intervene on 230,000 tons by 2020; Moreover, it was CFA70.76 billion. Compare its behalf with the ministry of land will create about 6,600 jobs. to the results in 2016, which was affairs and the ministry of regional In 2017, PHP has exported 175,272 CFA75.48 billion, this represents a administration. tons of bananas against 172,444 tons decrease by about CFA5 billion. According to the company, once the in 2016. The provisional amount of PHP indicates that this result can issues are resolved, it will increase tax and duties paid to Cameroon’s be explained by the land issues it its production by about 120 tons treasury is estimated at CFA6.18 bil- is confronted with. It also explains per year in Dihane and Bonguem, in lion against CFA7.05 billion during that to resolve the issue, it has Sanaga Maritime. This will enable the previous fiscal year.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 26 AGRIBUSINESS

Penja pepper and Cameroon’s coffee conquer the South African market The participation of Cameroon’s pepper. This was revealed on January the Cameroonian coffee roaster has economic operators in Durban fair 25, 2018, during a ceremony of obtained the firm promise of another in South Africa from September 25 to presentation of New Year’s wishes to South African partner, whose name October 1, 2017, has started to yield Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the has not been disclosed, to distribute results. minister of commerce, in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s coffee in that country Indeed, during the fair, some South Achille Bassilékin, secretary general with 55 million consumers. African partners have signed a at this ministry. contract to be supplied with Penja During that same fair, TORRECAM,

Three rice production agropoles to launch this quarter, in Central region Yaouba Abdoulaye, Cameroon’s delegat- ed minister of econ- omy, announces that instructions have been given for the launch of three rice production agropoles in Nkoteng, Nanga- Eboko in Lékié department, during Q1 2018. He revealed this on January 15, 2018, dur- ing a field visit in the central region; this in the framework of a prospecting mission in order to launch a program to promote rice farming in five , namely the Far- north, the North, the West, the Northwest and the Centre. According to govern- ment authorities, the programme should help the country boost its production, from 100,000 tons of rice now, to more than a million tons.

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 AGRIBUSINESS 27

SNS wants to be the leader in coffee processing in the country

Cameroon’s ministry of economy has coffee processing in Cameroon. The 1,510 tons of husk coffee, 1,750 tons agreed to support Synergie Nord Sud goal is to process 7,000 tons of coffee of processed coffee and 450 tons of (SNS), based in Nkongsamba in the per year within 3 years and, it will roasted coffee. During the period coastal region, in the modernization also generate about 500 direct jobs under review, the company generat- of its production machinery. and 6,600 indirect jobs. ed CFA491 million turnover. The ministry wants to help SNS buy So far, the main activity of SNS is From 4-11 July 2016, “Ménage à a more efficient torrefaction unit shelling and processing of raw coffee trois” was the only Cameroonian which will multiply its production in decaffeinated water-soluble coffee brand to be tasted in France capacity four folds. According to ground roasted coffee in capsule at the headquarter of Agence Aimé Njiakin, sponsor of SNS, this under the brand “Ménage à trois”. pour la valorisation des produits will make the company the leader in In 2016, the company has produced agricoles especially. The ban on transport A cassava production of chicken has been agropole launched in lifted in the West Atok

An agropole of cassava production, processing and commercialization has been launched in Atok, in East The ban on the transport of chicken has just been lifted Cameroon. It has been launched by Cameroon’s ministry in West Cameroon, the biggest chicken production basin of economy in the framework of the agropole projects in Cameroon, by the governor of this region. The ban was that it oversees. due to outbreaks of avian flu hit the country in 2016 and Thanks to funds from government, this project initi- in 2017. ated by women’s organizations aimed to increase the Cameroon’s poultry association (Interprofession avicole annual cassava production from 178 tons to 6,280 tons. du Cameroun- IPAVIC) estimates that about CFA16 According to them, this will help produce about 3,500 billion was lost during these outbreaks. Poultry farmers tons of cassava flour. in the Western region, which represents 80% of the sector, Lets’ note that through the agropole projects initiated had lost the most. some years ago, Cameroon’s government wants to create The lift has been warmly welcomed by them and they plan income-generating activities in rural zones and boost to relaunch activities in order to keep the as national production in order to reduce food products’ the breeding ground of poultry in Cameroon. imports.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 28

ENERGY Eneo builds Cameroon’s first solar/thermal hybrid plant in Djoum

On January 25, 2018, Eneo has energy supply. Bertoua, , and Ngaoundal commissioned the first ever solar/ With a field of 600 solar panels, the namely. ENEO’s solar programme thermal hybrid plant, in Cameroon, largest till-date in Cameroon, Djoum should create hybrid plants at the in Djoum, Southern Cameroon. With solar park will produce 186 KW isolated thermal plants installed in this infrastructure, built by the and, it is combined with a 1,115 KW those regions. Spanish ELECNOR (CFA319 million), thermal plant. Moreover, Joël Nana Kontchou said 3 the electricity company moves into “Specifically, in Djoum, during solar plants with 35 MW generating photovoltaic. daytime, we inject both thermal and capacity would be installed in the

“With the commissioning of Djoum solar power in the electric grid. The northern region, this region being pilot project, we are demonstrating fuel saved can thus be used to meet the the most isolated, according to a through deeds that sun shines for demands. Moreover, the operational research conducted by the electricity everybody and, we want to encourage time of the thermal plant is reduced. regulatory agency. In detail, it would local economic actors to invest in This limits the risks of outbreaks and be a 10 MW plant in Guider, 10MW in this new green energy which is now a thus allows an improved availability Ngadoundéré and 15 MW in . genuine opportunity”, said Joël Nana of the machines”, explained Eugène Eneo estimated that these solar Kontchou, managing director ENEO. Ngueha, director of technical activi- plants whose procurement pro- He explained that ENEO chose the ties at ENEO Cameroon. cedures were ongoing would be hybrid plant for its first solar project The company revealed that it had operational by March- April 2019. because this solution would help already conducted studies on six save operating costs and guarantee other sites, Lagdo, , Lomié,

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 29

MINING Tidfore Heavy Equipment Group signs MoU with Sundance resource on Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project

On January 22, 2018, Australian min- the mining company explained. an end to the unsuccessful negotia- ing company Sundance Resources So, with this explanation, it is to be tions between Sundance and China has signed a Memorandum of understood that once an amount Ghezouba for the construction of the Understanding (MoU) with Tidfore is agreed by the two parties for the infrastructures which will allow the Heavy Equipment Group Ltd, a 51% shares of Sundance in Cam Iron, ore’s exploitation. Chinese company specialized in Tidfore will take control of the pro- “Sundance is pleased to have reached the construction and supply of port ject. However, Sundance explained an agreement with substantial parties handling and offshore exploration that it would retain the ownership of to progress the development of the equipment. This was revealed by a Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project for Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project and statement of Sundance Resouces a minimum of 3 years. now awaits the decision of the govern- whose subsidiary, Cam Iron, oversees In the framework of this MoU, the ment of Cameroon on whether it will the project for the development of Chinese company has signed a grant a further extension”, said Giulio Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore (35 million joint-venture framework agree- Casello, CEO of Sundance. tons of iron) which is located at the ment with China Civil Engineering Let’s remind that for the umpteenth Cameroon-Congo border. Construction Corporation (CCECC), time, Cameroon had to extend the “The purpose of the MOU is to provide a subsidiary of China Railway contract, with Sundance, to January a framework for cooperation between Construction Corporation (CRCC). 28, 2018, because of the difficul- the parties and their joint venture Under the agreement, Tidfore is to ties of the Australian company to partners in order to establish the construct the iron ore terminal of find partners for the project. The required consortium of expertise to Kribi deepwater port from which Cameroonian government prom- fund or assist in sourcing the funding iron extracted from the mine will be ised however that at the expiry of to construct the infrastructure and to exported. CCECC, on its part, is to this deadline, it would extend the bring the project into operation”, the construct the railway which will span contract for 6 months if and only if statement explained. over 500 km between Mbalam and Sundance makes significant progress “Under the MOU, Sundance will sell Kribi. in its search for partners. 51% of its ownership in Cam Iron to The arrival of Tidfore on the Mbalam- Tidfore for a value to be agreed…”, Nabeba iron ore project thus puts

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 30

INDUSTRY CFA4 billion project to recycle electronic and electrical waste in Douala and Yaoundé A project to collect and recycle elec- 23, 2018, by Douala urban communi- last five years, sources close to the tronic and electrical waste, named ty and la Guilde européenne du Raid, project revealed. Weecam, will be implemented in a French NGO. Thanks to the setting of a collection Douala and in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The CFA4 billion-project, fund- system and a recycling unit, Weecam The partnership agreement for this ed mainly by the French Global wants to recycle 5,000 tons of waste project has been signed on January Environment Facility (FFEM), will be per year (3,900 locally).

A used tire recycling company to launch in 2019 in Bikok

At the start of 2019, Pneupur will company host by the technopole concept is efficient. launch the first used tires recycling of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure The company wants to create 41 di- and recovery in Cameroon, sources Polytechnique de Yaoundé, this unit rect jobs and 150 indirect jobs within close to the project reveals. will convert the used tires collected 3 years. At the start, it will transform The two twin brothers who initiated in Cameroon into granulated materi- 70,000 used tires, however, at the end this revolution, are automobile en- als. These materials will then serve as of those 3 years, it will increase the thusiast and they studied automobile coating for soils of central court- capacity to 150,000 tires. in France. This revolution will change yards, buildings, multisport grounds, The project will cost about CFA327 the way used tires are generally recreational areas, schoolyards and million (€500,000) and, it has been discarded. According to the spon- others children’s playgrounds. funded by private operators and sors, 80% of those tires are generally According to the brothers, a first investment funds. discarded in nature. coating will be carried out in 2018 Build on 3 hectares, in Bikok, the in order to show that the Pneupur

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 INDUSTRY 31

André Mama Fouda inaugurated a drug production unit in Douala

At the end of December 2017, André Located at Yassa in Douala, the lion drugs, is aimed at reducing drug Mama Fouda, Cameroon’s minister company is the result of the partner- imports in the country, according of public health has inaugurated ship between a private investor (not to Dr. Prosper Hiag, chairman of the Africure, a company specialized in named so-far) and Indian investors. Africure’s board of directors. the production of generic and other The CFA5 billion investment, which essential pharmaceuticals. allows the mass production of 1 bil-

MIDEPECAM will launch a project to promote shrimps from Bakassi peninsula In the forthcoming months, the peninsula (popularly called Gambas). create a shrimp sector in Cameroon, mission for the development of During a meeting of MIDEPECAM’s MIDEPECAM wants to finalize the traditional offshore and inshore management board, it was revealed construction of an ice production fishing (Mission de développement that thanks to the project, gam- unit in Idenau in the Southwest de la pêche artisanale maritime- bas would be supplied to local in 2018. This infrastructure is set MIDEPECAM) should launch a pro- markets and foreign countries. to boost the conservation of fish ject to promote shrimps from Bakassi Apart from this project which could products.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 32

ITC & TELECOM The turnover of telecommunication operators has decreased by 0.5% in 2016

In 2016, the turnover of telecom- turnover of mobile operators and with negative effects on the operators’ munication operators operating in internet access providers, this decline margin”, the agency explained. Cameroon has decreased by 0.5% to illustrates the impacts of the competi- Naturally, the decline had impacted stand at CFA574.4 billion. This was tive activities being carried out in the the telecommunication sectors con- revealed by Cameroon’s telecom- sector. Indeed, the market being less tribution in Cameroon’s GDP in 2016 munication regulatory agency in a differentiated, the competition tends because that year, it contributed report on the country’s telecommu- to be based on the tariffs for services 3.25%, a decrease by 0.18% compared nication market condition. offered and the ability to provide at- to the previous year (2015). “In a context marked by the intro- tractive internet bundles. In the short duction of a 2% excise duty on the run, such situation creates tensions

BUSINESS IN CAMEROON N° 60 / February 2018 33

SERVICES

GICAM and MEDEF to promote Cameroon to French SMEs On January 31, 2018, a memorandum between the two parties via experi- In the framework of this memoran- of understanding, to revive the coop- ence sharing and concrete actions on dum, GICAM commits to “facilitate eration between GICAM (Cameroon’s the field in the economic, commer- the development of trade between the Employers Association) and MEDEF cial and environmental sectors. companies registered with the two as- (the French Employers’ Association), GICAM revealed that according to sociations in a world economy which has been signed in Paris. It was Pierre Gattaz, through the mem- is increasingly integrated and yet more signed by Célestin Tawamba and orandum, they had to help new competitive”. On its part, MEDEF will Pierre Gataz, respectively president entrepreneurs arise and promote cooperate with GICAM “in the field of GICAM and MEDEF. Cameroon to French SMEs via a win- of vocational training, which is a key The memorandum of understanding win partnership. This will enable the factor in the promotion of investments is aimed at strengthening the man- local transformation of products and and business development, for the agement cooperation and improve provide an added-value in sectors middle management especially”. the conditions of this cooperation such as agribusiness and mining. CRTV to launch a news channel soon

On January 28, 2018, Cameroon as a sports channel. to Home). For this, Cameroonians Radio Television (Crtv) will launch its The channel can be received by have only to buy a small dish of 24-hour news channel. DVB-T antennas, in Yaoundé and about 50 cm and a decoder. This will According to Charles Ndongo, Douala especially. Those who still cost about CFA30,000. The solution CRTV’s managing director, this date have analog TV sets have just to fix offered by cable companies is still a is symbolic because the public chan- an external antenna and a digital possibility. nel has been created on January 28, decoder. CRTV also indicated that users 1988. The decision to create a news Across the national territory, it is could watch the news channel on channel was taken in 2016, in the possible to receive Crtv News on smartphones. So, when the channel framework of the digital transition. Eutelsat 16 A which transmit by is launched, the telecommunication The news channel Crtv News had KU-band, unencrypted digital signal operators which transmit CRTV’s sig- even been announced in 2017 as well accessible to all, on DTH (Direct nals will also transmit CRTV News.

N° 60 / February 2018 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON 34

LEADER OF THE MONTH Nadine Tinen has been appointed as the Regional Senior Partner of PwC in the French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa

the member of the national order of Cameroon’s tax advisers has integrated the management board of PwC in the French-speaking Sub- Saharan Africa as head of the legal and tax advisory section. “Challenges to demographic, econom- ic and social transformation in Africa are rising now. This is why it is our responsibility to accompany actors involved in the development of Africa (be they companies, communities, public, pan-African or even interna- tional companies) in the realization of their projects, from the elaboration of the strategy to its execution. We are convinced that by supporting these actors, we will contribute to the development and emergence of Africa as a whole”, she said. Graduated from Bourgogne University (Dijon), in France, the tax expert joined PwC in 1996. Ten years later, she was made an associate in the company’s subsidiary in Cameroon. “Apart from ambitious financial and business goals, I want Nadine Tinen: “Challenges to demographic, economic and social transformation in Africa are rising now.” diversification to be at the heart of my term. Indeed, I will continue to under- take engaged actions for the inclusion of women in the economic sphere The international audit and consult- of PwC in Cameroon becomes a and in the African society in general. ing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers member of the Territory Leadership At PwC, this will translate into the (PwC) has just announced that the Team of PwC France & French- valorization of excellence, regardless of 45 years old Cameroonian Nadine speaking Africa. gender, and the promotion of individu- Tinen has been appointed as the According to PwC, during her al careers allowing everybody to better Regional Senior Partner of PwC in 20 years of practice, Nadine Tinen reconcile family and professional life”, the French-speaking Sub-Saharan has developed a proven expertise Nadine Tinen expanded.. Africa. Hence, the former manager in corporate consulting. In 2014, BRM

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