Business in Cameroon Is Com- Choice, Which Is Generally Based on Deserve to Be Presented

economic actors MAJOR PROJECTS-AGRICULTUREMAJOR -ENERGYMININGINDUSTRYSERVICESFINANCE in Cameroon

July - August 2020 / N° 89 - 90 CAMEROON BUSINESS IN Top 100 FREE -CANNOT BESOLD BUSINESSIN CAMEROON .COM Daily business news from Cameroon

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Yasmine Bahri-Domon,

No. 100!

In this 100th issue of your favorite Out of the 100 figures presented, only 13 magazine, we made a list featuring 100 are women. Unequal gender distribution outstanding figures from the public reflects women’s low inclusion in the and private sector who significantly country’s economic growth. In parallel, it contribute to Cameroon’s economic also implies a huge potential for sustai- development. nable growth if steps are taken to bridge this gap. It is worth noting that this list is partly subjective and could have included More than 80% of the actors featured on more promising startups. However, our our list of individuals and companies staff deemed it better not to do so. Two building the economy are Cameroonians. reasons motivated such a choice. The A choice that aims not at discoura- first is that we have in the past already ging foreign investors from coming to published a list of the best Cameroonian Cameroon but rather to let them know startups. The second is simply because that they would have to work hand in we thought it would be preferable to pre- hand with our dynamic, and proudly sent personalities who have an influence Cameroonian, entrepreneurs. on the economy at the present moment.

Note also that our list is not a ranking, and is thus, purposely, random.

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 3 CONTENTS

INTERVIEW LEADER OF THE MONTH

59 • Colonel Roger Kuitche: “Military strategy 66 • Elizabeth Tchoungui becomes Orange is an important tool that will benefit Group’s Executive Director of CSR, Diversity, businesses and public administrations” and Solidarity

Publisher Corrections : Souha TOURE Stratline Limited Advertisement Publication Director [email protected] Yasmine BAHRI-DOMON In Cameroon Albert MASSIMB, [email protected] Contributors Tel : 00 237 694 66 94 59 Brice R. Mbodiam, Sylvain Andzongo, Idriss Linge, Muriel EDJO. Printing Rotimpres, Aiguaviva, Espagne Operator Médiamania Sàrl Office - Distribution Cameroon www.mediamania.pro Albert MASSIMB, [email protected] Maquette : Jérémie FLAUX, Tel : 00 237 694 66 94 59

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4 N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 FOCUS

Top 100 economic actors in Cameroon P 08-58

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 5 COMPANY OF THE MONTH

SEMC dashes shareholders’ expectations with 2019 net profits five times below projections

Société des eaux minérales du expectations. Indeed, during a mixed cades, with its famous brand «Source Cameroun (SEMC), a company listed general meeting of this company Tangui», SEMC was supplanted in on the Central African Unified Stock held on May 15, 2019, in Douala, 2016 by “Source du Pays”. The latter, Exchange, closed 2019 with a net shareholders projected a net result which returned on the market after a result a little over CFAF79 million, of about CFAF 410 million for the few years’ pause, closed 2016 with a according to an official document company. market share of around 52%, compa- published by the company. This sub- These projections were based on an red with only 36% for the subsidiary sidiary of brewing group SABC was increase in the sales of the different of SABC. thus profitable after three successive forms of its water brand «Vitale». The Since then, SEMC has been unable years of losses (-316 million FCFA in company was expecting a 21% and to close the gap despite the deploy- 2016, -936 million in 2017 and -799 35% increase in its sales and produc- ment, by SEMC and its parent million in 2018), which led to fears of tion respectively in 2019. However, company, of a plan to win back the an early dissolution of the company, SEMC was unable to achieve all these market. This plan led to the launch, per the Ohada regulation. projected performances. Instead, the in 2017, of the mineral water brand SEMC is thus recovering after sha- very first company listed in Central “Vitale”, whose prices on the market reholders’ decision not to dissolve Africa recorded a net result five times are close to those of “Supermont”, it. However, its performance during lower than projections of the period. Source du Pays’ leading brand.. the financial year ending December The undisputed leader of the mineral Brice R. Mbodiam 31, 2019, does not meet shareholders’ water market in Cameroon for de-

6 N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 MONTHLY STATISTICS

32.6%

In its quarterly information note, the Cameroonian electricity company Eneo announced a 32.6% drop in the produc- CFAF219 billion tion of the thermal power stations installed in the country to supply energy to some of the population. According While it was looking for 25 billion CFAF (Central African to the company, this drop in thermal energy production CFA Francs) through a final issuance of 7-year Treasury during the first quarter (compared with production during Bonds (T-bonds) on the BEAC market on June 17, 2020, the same period in 2019), was due to rationing carried out the Cameroonian Treasury finally settled for CFAF 17.7 bil- «at some power stations because of a fuel shortage caused lion. Subscribers to this operation, which pays 6.5% inte- by enormous cash constraints.» rest, thus enabled Cameroon to bring to a successful close a programme it launched in early April 2020 to mobilize According to Eneo’s data, these rationings were greater at medium and long-term financing on the money market. the Maroua (Far-North) and Bertoua (East) plants, established by the British company Aggreko. Officially, their At the end of six operations issuing public securities with production capacities decreased by almost 60% during the 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10-year maturity, Cameroon raised a total of period under review. CFAF 219.4 billion out of the CFAF 220 billion sought for the implementation of some infrastructure projects in the country.

687

The Cameroonian government is currently finalizing nego- 1,560 Km tiations with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union (EU) for the financial closing of the Rural Electrification and Access to Energy in Underserved Areas $385 million (about CFAF 225 billion). That is the amount Project in Cameroon (Perace), according to the Ministry of of the concessional loan that the World Bank approved Water and Energy. From the Far North, North, Adamaoua, on June 16, 2020, to finance the Cameroon-Chad Power North-West, South-West, and East regions, Perace will be Interconnection Project. For this same project, a financing implemented over the 2020-2026 period and provide elec- agreement of CFAF150 billion had already been signed on tricity to 687 localities in the country. April 3, 2020, between the Cameroonian government and the African Development Bank (ADB). The overall cost of this rural electrification project is estimated at $223.5 million, or about CFAF131 billion. The cur- The financial support of the Bretton Woods institution rent negotiations with the EIB and the EU cover a total of thus brings the budget made available for this project to $73.5 million (nearly CFAF 43 billion). This sum will com- CFAF 375 billion, therefore, enabling the completion of the plement the $150 million (nearly CFAF 88 billion) already fund seeking stage for this gigantic integrated energy pro- provided by the World Bank. ject. This project consists of the construction of a 1,560 km power transmission line between Cameroon and Chad.

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 7 DOSSIER

The architects of Cameroon’s economy

Your favorite magazine is celebrating tive selection and is therefore subject Head of the corporate group, even its 100th publication. A milestone to the fallacies inherent in such though many other players may that Business in Cameroon is com- choice, which is generally based on deserve to be presented. memorating with this special issue non-scientific criteria. Also, it pri- We optimistically believe that the list that features 100 personalities who marily targets people whose actions we drew up is fairly representative of are sweating to make Cameroon have had and continue to have a the main actors in the local econo- great. They are economic operators significant impact on the economy, mic landscape. and policymakers who weigh a lot in not the rising stars. In some sectors, Brice R. Mbodiam different sectors of the economy. for example, the spotlight is only The list herein is based on a subjec- on the leader of the company or the

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Paul KAMMOGNE FOKAM A Paul of all trades His latest achievement dates back insurance to capital investment, to October 2019 when he secured cellulose transformation, and real the license for launching Afriland estate, to name a few. First Bank Uganda Limited. This is the 11th subsidiary of the banking Ranked by Forbes as the second group whose Cameroonian branch richest person in the French- reported a total balance sheet of speaking part of sub-Saharan Africa, more than XAF1,159 billion for last Paul Kammogne also founded year. MC2, Cameroon’s second-largest microfinance network, which he Paul Kammogne Fokam has succee- recently stopped managing. He has ded in building a true financial and become in the framework of the industrial empire whose pum- China Africa Development Fund ping heart is Afriland First Bank, (CADFUND) one of the main pro- an institution that rivals foreign moters of Chinese investments in lenders in every market where it is Africa. Truly, he is the only person present. In Cameroon, the business- allowed to submit to the Chinese man employs thousands of people, Fund any project, private or public, in various sectors, ranging from initiated by an African country.

Kate KANYI FOTSO An iron lady with a strong grip on the cocoa sector She is the director-general of Telcar Cocoa, the local dealer According to Forbes, she is worth of U.S behemoth Cargill. On its $250 million (around XAF150 own, her firm supplies 30% of all billion), making her the richest the cocoa Cameroon exports. In woman in Francophone sub- this sector where she has been Saharan Africa. However, her competing with men for the past revenues took a strong hit in 20 years, Kate Kanyi Fotso has the recent years after conflicts truly become an eminent figure. sparked by secessionists broke Reckoned as the main supplier out in the southwestern part of of certified cocoa in the country, the country which used to be she has over six cocoa campaigns Cameroon’s largest cocoa produc- distributed around six billion CFA tion basin and the region where francs of premium to certified Telcar Cocoa purchases up to cocoa producers. 80% of their cocoa stocks.

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 9 FOCUS

Baba DANPULLO The tea emperor adds more strings to his bow Cameroon is about to sign with partners at Nextell which he seeks Filipino firm ICTSI a contract to take control of. under which the multipurpose terminal of the Kribi deepwater The fight to take control of the port (located in the southern Vietnamese telecom operator, it region of the country) will be should be noted, affects in no way transferred to the Asian company. Danpullo’s wealth. Indeed, the Many economic stakeholders former truck driver made most believe this is compensation for of his fortune from agribusiness Baba Danpullo who is ICTSI’s primarily, but also in real estate. main partner in Cameron. He became a billionaire mainly Indeed, in 2015, the richest man by exporting tea cultivated in in Cameroon and Francophone Ndawara, located in the nor- sub-Saharan Africa, according to thwestern region of Cameroon. He Forbes, had failed after multiple does this through Ndawara Tea attempts to secure a similar deal Estates. Besides his tea planta- for the port’s container terminal. tions, Danpullo owns in Ndawara Nevertheless, the new deal is still a ranch where thousands of cattle good news for the mogul as he is are raised. in the middle of a brawl with his Samuel FOYOU The multifaceted billionaire Known for being a discreet billio- Indeed, some of the assets naire, Samuel Foyou is currently he controls include Société completing in the downtown area camerounaise de fermentation of Douala the very first five-star (Fermencam), a distillery he hotel of his new Chrystal Palace purchased in 2006 from the late chain. He is also preparing to billionaire Victor Fotso; Unalor, launch activities at his brewery, a matches factory also acquired Brasaf (which stands for Brasserie from the Fotso group in 2009; Samuel Foyou), also Cameroon’s Plasticam, Sotrasel (which makes fourth brewery. The industrialist cooking salt), the Samuel Foyou who made most of his fortune biscuit factory (BSF), and the from assets he owns in Congo and Moore Paragon printing company. Angola runs a multidimensional empire.

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Famille KADJI Monarchs ruling a beer empire

About two years ago, during Above all, the name Kadji the night of August 22 to 23, is often associated with the the Cameroonian billionaire Cameroonian brewers union, Joseph Kadji Defosso breathed UCB. Launched in 1972, his last in Johannesburg, the latter is the country’s South Africa. However, the only state-owned brewer. It exit of the self-made man, disputes the local market with unlike often the case, has not Société anonyme des brasse- shaken the strong founda- ries du Cameroun and Diageo tions of the empire he built (respective subsidiaries of over decades of hard work the global giants Castel and and commitment. The Kadji Guinness). According to U.S family which inherited the magazine Forbes, the founder late magnate’s conglomerate - of the Kadji group was worth one that regroups many busi- $205 million (nearly XAF113 nesses operating in sectors billion), making him one such as real estate, insurance, of Cameroon’s 10 richest industrial production, agribu- persons. siness, and milling - is doing an outstanding job running it. Francis NANA DJOMOU From cosmetics to tourism In recent years, Francis eponymous stock cubes. Nana Djomou spent XAF2 Jumbo was a fierce com- billion to build a tourist petitor of Nestlé’s Maggi resort in his village of cube in the local market Nkep, near Bangou in the but slowly lost in popularity western part of Cameroon. after the disputes began. The project seems to have Despite his diverse gotten more luck than investments, Francis Nana Elim Beverage and Food Djomou is mostly asso- SA. The latter is a natural ciated with Biopharma, a fruit juice factory that the leading cosmetics firm in businessman has been Cameroon. In all, the com- promising since 2015. This pany operates in 23 African was some time after squab- countries, including bles between him and his Cameroon whose market is foreign partners in “Jumbo”, extremely competitive. the company behind the

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 11 FOCUS

Famille NOUTCHOGOUIN The king of poultry is dead, yet his kingdom stands, as glorious as ever!

Though he is dead assets in the banking since January 2019, the industry (the family is influence of Jean Samuel the main shareholder of Noutchogoin in the Banque Atlantique), real poultry industry remains estate, car industry (with intact. Indeed, his children shares in CFAO), insu- sustained the domination rance, and through one of of the late billionaire over their companies, Icrafon, the sector; this, through they sell “Bic” ballpoint three companies that pens and razors. respectively produce lives- tock feed, day-old chicks, According to Forbes, the and input for hen-rearing. Noutchogouin family is Cameroon’s fifth-largest Beyond the poultry in- fortune with an estima- dustry, the Noutchogouin ted wealth of more than empire also owns major XAF150 billion. Célestin TAWAMBA The n°1 boss with assets in the flour and drug industries Célestin Tawamba heads the since 2017 the president of the Cadyst Invest, an industrial group Groupement inter-patronal du that includes four firms, two of Cameroun (GICAM), the country’s which are active in the agribusi- largest association of employers. ness sector, and the other two in It was under this title that the bu- pharmaceuticals. The first two sinessman made the headlines a companies are Pasta and Panzani few months ago after demanding Cameroun which make pasta, and the ministry of finance to sack the remaining two are Cinpharm the director-general of taxes who, and SIPP (Société Industrielle he said, was incompetent and de Produits Pharmaceutiques) stifled businesses. The request which produce generic drugs and was addressed in a letter to the medical consumables. president of the republic which Most importantly, Tawamba is was leaked to the press.

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Philippe TAGNE NOUBISSI He who dreams of becoming the Cameroonian WatMart

While he is still unknown to most Today, his Dovv stores, which distin- Cameroonians, Phillipe Tagne Noubissi guish themselves with their colors and supplies many goods to millions of architecture, are spread across around Cameroonian families, every day, 10 different parts of Cameroon’s capital through supermarket chain Dovv. - a feat achieved through the owner’s However, 30 years ago he was just a expansion strategy which focused on mere street seller who dreamt of one proximity and democratizing access to day becoming a big shot in the mass supermarkets which used to be acces- retail industry. After overcoming many sible to the elite class alone. challenges, and at the cost of count- Now, the successful businessman less sacrifices, Phillipe Tagne Noubissi dreams of becoming a local version of launched in 2003 his very first Dovv the U.S mass retail giant WatMart which supermarket at the Mokolo market, in employs more than two million people. Yaoundé. Bernard NDONGO ESSOMBA The man who built a fortune trading Cameroonian cocoa For many years, cocoa farmers the eye of many - the greeks first, in villages of the central region then other powerful brands such of Cameroon, and other regions as Cargill, Theobroma, etc. With as well, would often associate their arrival, Ndongo Essomba the name of Bernard Ndongo had to face fierce competition. Essomba with trucks passing by Now, he is an eminent persona- loaded with bags full of cocoa lity of the Cameroonian political beans. More than often not, they world and has been leading were right since many of such deputies of the ruling party at the trucks indeed belonged to the national assembly for many years. successful businessman who A position that seems not to amassed an impressive fortune by prevent the cocoa lover from run- tapping into the country’s cocoa ning his businesses as he owns basins. various companies that often land contracts to supply services However, as years passed, to public administrations. Cameroon’s cocoa has caught

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 13 FOCUS

Albert KOUINCHE The domestic and regional money transfer expert After studying at the University new money transfer platform, of Yaoundé, working at the which is present in many Crédit foncier of Cameroon countries across West and and the Banque de l’Habitat, he Central Africa, Express Union started in 1997 his own money branched into the microfinance transfer company, Express sector. Union. At the beginning of the 2000s, Express Union overtook Other assets of Albert Kouinche the domestic transfer market include a stake in Banque forcing bigger companies to Atlantique Cameroun and focus on international transfers. Société camerounaise d’équipe- ments (SCE) which he took over However, as the mobile money discreetly. The SCE is a financial technology emerged, the com- institution that lends money pany has been struggling des- to customers in need, enabling pite having over 1,000 outlets them to purchase goods or across the territory. Failing to small home appliances. reinvent itself in the face of the Famille SOHAING Céline Koloko preserves her father’s legacy Five years have passed since André Sohain, for- Nowadays, it is Céline mer mayor of Bayangam, Koloko Sohaing (his western Cameroon, daughter) who runs died. However, the successfully, the Akwa luxurious Akwa Palace Palace as its commercial hotel he built in down- director. town Douala keeps his memory more alive While the name Sohaing than ever. The faci- is mainly associated lity operated under the with the Akwa Palace, brand Pullman for many the wealthy family owns years before being taken many other assets, most over by the late Sohaing of them in the real estate himself. industry.

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Sylvestre NGOUCHINGHE All hail the king of the frozen fish industry This former small shop owner in terms of fish supplies to the now controls nearly 80% of people of Cameroon, as well as in Cameroon’s frozen fish market. the fight against the high cost of He is the man behind Congelcam, living. an import company that holds a firm grip on the country’s frozen Concerning the latter, the fish supply chain. Indeed, it is Cameroonian Ministry of trade impossible to miss the Congelcam said that a shortage, or an logo while shopping for frozen increase in prices of the “maque- fish, both in urban markets and reau 5 plus,” a cheap mackerel the remote parts of Cameroon. consumed by 75% of the population, could spark hunger riots in As a result of his near-mono- the country; A legit claim consi- poly in the local market, Sylvestre dering that rice and fish are the Ngouchinghe has become an two food products that Cameroon essential partner of the State imports the most. Samuel NEOSSI The successful cocoa buyer turned the industrial processor On April 26, 2019, Cameroon’s diary of Barry Callebaut, one first cocoa processing factory of the world’s largest cocoa -Neo Industry - was inaugu- processors and chocolate rated in Kekem, somewhere manufacturers. between the country’s western and coastal regions. The plant Just after launching the cocoa which can process 32,000t of processing plant, he started the beans per year is owned another gigantic project in by Emmanuel Neossi, a Douala, on the site where the Cameroonian entrepreneur old Congo market was. The who spent many years in the project, a private-public par- cocoa trading sector. tnership, aims to erect a state- of-the-art mall with 3,350 By launching Neo Industry, stores; This, at the astounding Neossi became the main rival cost of XAF28 billion. of Sis Cacaos, the local subsi-

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 15 FOCUS

Emmanuel PEUGHOUIA First Cameroonian to invest in cement production He is the man behind the rience regarding the distribution Quifeurou hardware chain whose of construction materials, makes first store was opened in 1983 in him the very first Cameroonian Bafoussam, western Cameroon. to have ever invested in the Emmanual Peughouia is his name country’s cement production and he is the only Cameroonian industry. We are proud to be the investor to own a stake in first Cameroonian operator to Medcem Cameroon, the cement invest in this sector which was, plant controlled by Turk group for many decades, inaccessible Eren Holding - a factory that is to local investors, commented located on the Wouri riverbank in the man who now competes Douala and which was inaugura- against heavyweights such as ted on December 16, 2016. Morocco’s Adohha group (Cimaf), Nigeria’s Dangote Cement (owned According to Peughouia, the by Africa’s richest man, Aliko partnership, which “combines the Dangote), and LafargeHolcim Turks’ expertise in cement pro- Maroc Africa (LMHA). duction with Cameroon’s expe- Adolphe MOUDIKI He who commands Cameroon’s state-owned oil company Since 1993, Adolphe Moudiki is the of businesses that gravitate around managing director of the Société oil. This includes Hydrac, a com- Nationale des hydrocarbures or SNH pany specialized in the control and (Cameroon’s public oil and gas com- analysis of oil and gas products; pany). The SNH is one of the major Tradex, which is specialized in oil contributors to the State budget. bunkering and sells oil products to Indeed, oil revenues make up to 25% populations; or Chantier naval et of the budget. Industriel du Cameroun, a shipbuil- ding company which used to be Beyond showing great managerial prosperous... Leveraging good finan- abilities as the head of the SNH, cial performances, the SNH even Moudiki demonstrated amazing acquired important assets in private entrepreneurial skills in this posi- companies, in sectors like insurances tion by building, or at least having a (Chanas Assurances) and metallurgy part in the emergence of a network (IBC) for example.

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Aurélie CHAZAI The brilliant mind behind Chazai & Partners After working for big law firms tions, instead of resorting to in France, this lawyer and legal firms based in London or Paris.” adviser decided to return and serve her country in 2017. On “We try to reassure foreign her return, she founded her investors by telling them that firm, Chazai & Partners, which not all is bad in Cameroon, provides legal counseling to that there are some people, private and public institutions. both public authorities and In an interview with Business civil servants, who do their jobs in Cameroon last December, very well. So, they can discuss the afro-optimist declared: “Our with serious and competent goal was to provide a different people, who can support their economic offer. We wanted investments in Cameroon,” she to make sure that economic added. operators have access to local experts for their major transac- Lynda AMADAGANA OLEMBA A lawyer with expertise in mining, energy, and infrastructure Lynda Amadagna Olemba A&P provides an alternative for recently launched A&P, a local investors, private firms, business law firm regrouping a and the government who often team of seasoned lawyers. “Our have to hire international firms firm specializes in business law, for deals and projects in the providing both counseling and mining, power, and infrastruc- litigation services. Our focus ture sectors. The law firm which is on the energy, mining, and has unveiled its ambition to infrastructure sectors, as well expand in Central Africa already as on sports law,” explained the has among its customers, major Cameroonian lawyer who gained companies such as Eneo, Actis, valuable experience by working Fayat-Egis, and Eramet. In for renowned firms abroad for addition to Cameroon, A&P has many years. offices in Paris, France.

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 17 FOCUS

Perrial Jean NYODOG 20 years as the head of Tradex, subsidiary of Cameroon’s state oil firm SNH On May 19, 2020, Tradex started Nyodog stood out remarkably in construction works for its first gas a local market where other local station in Equatorial Guinea. On companies were doing poorly. that occasion, Jean Perrial Nyodog Under his leadership, Tradex made a who headed the public oil company difference and was even able to win since it was established in 1999 market shares outside Cameroon. was absent and could not witness In the Central African Republic, for the major milestone advancing the example, the company had a major firm’s expansion in Central Africa. fallout with French giant Total over An absence explained by the loss of the control of a gas station. In Chad his position on December 12, 2019. also, the company has been running, since 2004, three gas stations as well Regardless, during the 20 years he as various oil storage facilities. spent as the person in command at the subsidiary of the SNH, M. Franklin NGONI IKOME NJIE The second-largest employer in Cameroon after the State For almost two years now, Cameroon the help of the State, Ngoni Ikome Njie Development Corporation (CDC), plans to soon resume the CDC’s activi- the public company that handles vast ties and end what he believes to be only plantations of banana, palm and rubber an unfortunate interlude in the story of trees in the southern region, has been the public company. off the banana export market. Franklin Ngoni Ikome Njie - the head of the The CDC is Cameroon’s largest em- firm- has been paying, with his 22,000 ployer, after the State. It is also, and employers, the price (a hefty one) of the most importantly, the agroindustrial conflicts that erupted at the end of 2016 lung of the country’s Anglophone between the government and a group region since many of its plantations of secessionists from Cameroon’s two are concentrated in the south-west English-speaking regions (the sou- and many of its workers are from the thwest and the northwest). north-west. Besides these two areas, However, the General Manager as he is the State-owned corporation has some known does not despair. Indeed, with rubber plantations in the coastal region.

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Judith YAH SUNDAY The puppet master who controls fiber optics in Cameroon Since December 2018, managing director she has been heading has wide margins to the State-owned tele- develop activities as a com operator Cameroon fully-fledged telecom Telecommunications operator. For example, (Camtel). The firm the firm which is has exclusive rights to Cameroon’s only manage optical fiber in landline operator was the country. Her name is recently awarded a 4G Judith Yah Sunday. license and thus rivals In addition to holding MTN, Orange, and the decision power over Nextel who already have the technology that is access to the optical essential to telecom fiber. operators, Camtel’s Jacques Jonathan NYEMB The preferred adviser of business owners After working for many re- “In African economies, nowned law firms abroad, less financialized than in Jacques Jonathan Nyemb Europe or North America, returned to Cameroon in the business attorney is the 2016. The young business preferred adviser business attorney then joined the owners” go to, said the 32- Nyemb firm, founded year old Harvard graduate. by his father, where he It should be emphasized advises businesses and that he is the youngest governments on financial member of the board of and commercial matters the Groupement Inter- such as how to launch and Patronal du Cameroun, grow a business, invest- the country’s largest ment projects, private employers’ association. equity investments, and structured financing.

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 19 FOCUS

Bony DASCHACO The communication expert behind Acmar Media Group For many years, Bony Media Group is present Daschaco was featured in 22 countries, in West in the Choiseul 100 and Central Africa. African leaders of tomorrow as CEO of Acmar Already well known in Media Group which the African economic he fully controls. The world, the discreet firm is an Advertising businessman now Marketing & Media dreams of expanding his Communication Agency. agency and enabling it to stand toe to toe with big In Cameroon, the international agencies clients of the young that still dominate the Cameroonian include fa- African market. mous companies. Acmar Emmanuel DE TAILLY A brewer with 6,500 employees It has been almost four and a turnover of XAF650 years now since Emmanuel billion. Also, it has genera- de Tailly was appointed ted nearly 100,000 indirect as the managing director jobs. of Société Anonyme des The SABC is at the heart of Brasseries du Cameroun a value chain that connects (SABC), one of the country’s to many other economic largest agribusiness compa- sectors (transport, catering, nies ever. Indeed, De Tailly mass retail, etc.). Every year, was catapulted into the it gets 30,000 tons of sugar position on December 7, and 10,000 tons of maize 2016, following a meeting of from 6,000 local farmers the SABC’s board held the and besides beer, the com- same day. pany also produces mineral water and bottles, through The firm boasts 6,500 direct Société des Eaux Minérales employees, nine plants, 42 du Cameroun (SEMC) and sales points, a fleet of 1,000 Société Camerounaise de vehicles that transport 3 Verrerie (SOCAVER). million bottles every day,

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Pascal MONKAM A story of beer and hotels

On April 23, 2020, 100 temporary jobs during Cameroon’s Prime Minister, construction. Joseph Dion Ngute, inau- Besides his hotels in gurated a new hotel in the Cameroon - three in Douala Bonapriso residential area and one in Yaoundé - in Douala - the La Falaise Monkam also has others Bonapriso. The 4-star hotel in South Africa. And while is the third opened by the he is mostly known for his La Falaise chain in the hotel chain, the business- country’s economic capital. man built his fortune in The building has 126 rooms, the Cameroonian brewing 12 suites, and 12 luxury industry. For many decades, apartments, and faces the he has been the main retai- Wouri River. Developed by ler of beers produced by Cameroonian billionaire the Société Anonyme des Jean Pascal Monkam, the Brasseries du Cameroun project created 200 direct (SABC). jobs after completion and Patrice YANTHO He who whispers in the ears of investors A few years ago, this ex-banker Patrice Yantho also has a hand founded JMJ Africa, a consulting in Sicamec’s ongoing project to firm that he runs as CEO. Before build an air-conditioner-refri- that, Yantho was the chief of gerator-freezer assembly unit corporate finance and infras- in the Kribi industrial zone. tructure financing at KPMG’s The same goes for the Douala Francophone Africa division. Grand Mall project which is an Though discreet by nature, the investment of the British Fund businessman played a major Actis. Yantho is part of the team role in many investment pro- of experts set up to monitor jects carried out in Cameroon the mall’s construction. He also in recent years. These include helps to restructure companies Atlantic Cocoa, the cocoa pro- in difficulty. cessing factory built by Ivorian billionaire Koné Dossongui in the Kribi industrial zone.

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Frédéric DEBORD Emissary of mobile operators

Since February 2018, Frédéric the rights of mobile operators Debord has been the managing in Cameroon. director of Orange Cameroon but he is also, most impor- Over the past two decades, the tantly, the president of the mobile market has experienced Cameroonian association of a true boom with a total num- licensed mobile operators ber of customers that currently which he helped set up. As exceeds 20 million and a cove- such, he is the spokesperson of rage rate of more than 90%. the country’s first three mobile However, the market’s perfor- operators – MTN, the leading mances have been decreasing operator, followed by Orange, in the last five years and mobile and Nextell (currently at the operators have lost 4% of their center of a battle between its overall turnover in the past four stakeholders). Camtel, which years. According to the asso- joined the mobile market in ciation led by Debord, in 2018 March 2020, could also adhere alone, they lost XAF96 billion. to the association that defends

Cyrus NGO’O A pivotal actor of external trade

Despite the recent commissio- Moreover, in 2018, Ngo’o initiated a ning of the Kribi deep-water port project to remove shipwrecks that (March 2018) in the south, the port have been cluttering surrounding of Douala could remain the main waters for the past 30 years. platform for international trade in Cameroon. According to the Earlier this year, the PAD set up a National Port Authority (APN), the special body tasked with managing port of Douala handles over 90% of Douala’s container terminal; a role the country’s maritime traffic. The which was previously assumed by infrastructure is managed by the the Bolloré group. The Port auto- Port autonome de Douala (PAD), a nome de Douala now plans to have state-owned company that Cyrus a daughter company named Eau Ngo’o has been heading since 2016. du Port de Douala-Bonabéri (EDP) which will specialize in the produc- Since he was appointed four years tion of drinking water for popula- ago, the PAD’s director-general has tions, and firefighting. In addition been steering a major program to to these, the company - PAD - plans modernize the port he oversees. on expanding to Manoka island in In its framework, new equipment 2030. and spaces have been acquired.

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Dieudonné BOUGNE The oil retailer dives into the mining industry

On December 13, 2019, the The investments in the mining Cameroonian State signed sector diversify the assets of with G-Stones resources an the Bocom group, the empire investment convention for founded and managed by the exploitation of the Akom Bougne, which G-Stones II iron ore deposit in the resources are a part of. In southern part of the country. addition to the latter, the Through the deal, Dieudonné former docker who became Bougne, CEO of the firm, one of the biggest importers should become one of the of Chinese products also sells very first economic operators finished petroleum products, to venture into the industrial recycles industrial waste, mining sector in Cameroon. In makes eco-friendly roofs, and detail, the project also involves has assets in the transport and building a steel complex in hospitality (B&B Investments) Fifinda, still in the south. sectors...

Marie MBALLA BILOA The Bayam-Selam Queen

Marie Mballa Biloa heads the By definition, a “Bayam Selam” Bayam-Selam Association is an enterprise: She takes of Cameroon (ASBY). In care of her accounting herself, Cameroon, “Bayam-Selam” is handles supplies, travels when the common appellation for needed, and markets her women selling food products goods also on her own, with at the market. These women peculiar methods. buy goods from farmers in rural areas, to resell in big While they used to be ignored towns. To fend for their fami- in the local economic fabric, lies, whom they often return to they are now acknowledged very late in the day, they must by public authorities and are wake up very early and travel gaining more presence as the through long, unsafe roads State’s partners in regards to connecting the towns where market supply. they work to villages where they get their supplies from.

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Théophile Gérard MOULONG The defender of insurers Since 2015, he has been the of XAF197 billion, up by 6% managing director of Saham compared to the year before. Insurance Cameroon, a Still, in 2017, the insurance subsidiary of the Moroccan sector was reported to have eponymous insurer that was officially employed more recently acquired by South than 1,200 people, directly, African Sanlam. Théophile and paid XAF49.6 billion in Gérard Moulong is also, and premiums to subscribers. most importantly, the head of Cameroon’s Association A majority (69.5%) of the of Insurance Companies Cameroonian insurance (ASAC). The latter regroups market is dominated by all insurers operating in the the accident branch while country. the rest is controlled by life insurance. In 2018, insurers According to the ASAC, in injected XAF 3 billion into 2017, the insurance firms ge- the local economy. nerated a combined turnover Alphonse NAFACK The Lord of bankers

Alphonse Nafack is the managing director of Alphonse Nafack is Afriland First Bank, a also the president position he has been (since 2015) of the occupying for some Professional Association years now. The lender of Credit Institutions of he oversees is the fifth Cameroon (APECCAM). biggest in Cameroon, in The banker is therefore terms of market shares. the spokesperson of all As such, the bank -with 15 lenders operating in a majority capital detai- the country - lenders ned by Cameroonians- who greatly contribute rivals multinationals to the development operating in the country. of the local economic It is also the main source fabric, mainly through of financing of CEMAC the loans they give eco- States on the regional nomic operators. public securities market.

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Bernard FOKOU Godfather of the construction sector The Fokou hardware stores are all partners. The firm operates in the over Yaoundé. Bernard Fokou, who construction industry. owns the chain, was in the past a small importer of construction Since then, however, Bernard Fokou equipment; a position from which has diversified his empire, branching he propelled himself to become a into agribusiness and wine produc- kind of godfather of the sector. After tion. In the wine industry, the seaso- the hardware chain, Fokou launched ned entrepreneur became a pioneer Aciéries du Cameroun, a company in Cameroon with his Sofavinc com- that made rebar but was unfortu- pany. The latter has been resisting nately destroyed in an explosion a fierce competition since the arrival few years into operations. Shortly in Cameroon of Boissons, Vins et afterward, the unyielding business- Spiritueux (BVS), a firm launched by man, leveraging his experience, Guillaume Sara, a former executive started a new enterprise - the Fokou- of the Castel group. Foberd company - with some foreign Nadine TINEN A career in the high ranks of the tax auditing sector The name Nadine Tinen is transformation in the French- often associated with the speaking parts of the sub-Saharan Francophone Africa branch of Africa region. Her various actions PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in this framework aim at better a London-based multinatio- supporting the firm’s clients during nal network of firms providing their transformation, their digital auditing, accounting, and consul- transformation especially. The top ting services. She joined the firm in executive is in charge of a team 1996, shortly after completing her of more than 700 people spread studies in tax law at the University across 10 African countries but of Burgundy. Her passion for work which operates in 17 of them. and perfectionist character pro- Leveraging her strong leadership pelled her to the top of the sector skills, she empowers other African and made her one of the best tax women who she believes have experts in her country, Cameroon. a major role to play in Africa’s Tinen currently steers PwC’s development.

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René LIBONG The boss of KPMG Central Africa He has been the managing Accountants of Cameroon (IFAC), director of KPMG Central Africa René Libong has acquired over 29 since 2002. There, he handles all years of experience in disciplines the tax, legal, audit, and advisory ranging from chartered accoun- activities in the countries covered tancy to financial consultancy, by the office (Gabon, Chad). He including the management of is the signatory partner of the audit missions for major indus- accounts of the Bank of Central trial groups in Cameroon, Africa African States (Beac), Sodecoton, and many other parts of the Standard Chartered Bank, world. In addition to the expe- BICEC, Sonara, the subsidiaries rience in accounting audit and of Orange in Cameroon and the financial diagnosis that he gained Central African Republic, British by working at Coopers & Lybrand American Tobacco (BAT), Gabon France and Cameroon, from 1988 Telecom and Commercial Bank to 2000, René Libong has led Chad (CBT). several audits and statutory audit A Cemac chartered accoun- missions in several sectors in tant and former president CEMAC countries. of the Institute of Chartered

Nemesius MOUENDI MOUENDI The corporate finance specialist

Nemesius Mouendi Mouendi has ring at Centrale Supelec, one of acquired extensive expertise in the most prestigious engineering the audit of private and public schools in France, earning a organizations. This experience Master’s degree in electrical and has been constantly put at the electronic engineering. Also, service of central administra- toward the end of his time at tions and decentralized local Centrale Supelec, he enrolled at authorities in Cameroon and Science Po, where he obtained elsewhere. At the moment, he is another Masters in International in charge of all of Deloitte’s ope- Finance. After that, he entered rations in Central Africa, relative the audit and accounting sector to the public sector, the energy and has been since May 2020 and infrastructure industries. the Vice President and a board In 1992, Mouendi Mouendi member of Deloitte’s branch in completed studies in enginee- Francophone Africa.

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Marème MBAYE NDIAYE A lioness who imposed herself in a land of lions

Many positive things She spent almost all of could be said about her career working at Marème Mbaye Ndiaye, the pan-African banking the first female Managing group Ecobank. There, Director of Société she acquired all the Générale Cameroon. She legitimacy to run one will be remembered for of the largest banks in her great humility, but Cameroon. At the time also her natural incli- she was recruited to nation to listen to her manage SG Cameroon, clients. As far as her Marème Ndiaye was professional career is the Chief of staff for the concerned, this Lioness Managing Director of of the Teranga imposed Ecobank Transnational herself without any major Incorporated, a position problems in the land of she assumed in 2016. the Indomitable lions. Léonce AUGOU The MD preceded by his reputation at Chanas assurances

Ivorian Léonce Augou offi- was appointed as Sales and cially became the managing Communication Director for director of Chanas assurances the same institution. on September 2, 2019. He thus The Ivorian holds a gra- took the reins of a company duate degree in insurance that has a large customer from the Institut national portfolio in the Cameroonian Polytechnique Houphouët market but was gradually Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire. In recovering after a difficult Cameroon, his skills should be period. Before his appoint- extremely useful in the health ment, Augou was working insurance sector, in line with at Saham assurances Côte the country’s universal health d’Ivoire as director of the insurance project. insurer’s partnership and synergy division. In 2016, he

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Gordon ACHA The investment banking specialist

For the past three years, Gordon to Cameroon where he would occupy Acha has been the managing director various positions including that of of the U.S banking group Citigroup’s corporate and commercial banking branch in Cameroon. Not only is head of Citi, he worked in many the position prestigious, but it also financial services firms in the US. allows the Cameroonian to put his After increasing the value of Citi expertise in investment banking at Cameroon’s client portfolio by mil- the service of his country. lions of dollars, he left the company Gordon holds a Bachelor of Science to work at the Atlantic group but and an M.B.A which he obtained later returned to head its Ivorian from the University of Massachusetts branch, and then the branch in and the Suffolk University (in Gabon. Boston), in the US. Before returning Georges James NDZUTUE FOTSO A leasing expert with a passion for finance When he obtained his Master’s In 2017, Fotso was appointed Degree in Accounting and Finance deputy-managing director of the at the Catholic University of leasing firm. However, after a few Central Africa in 2003, Georges months, he was promoted to the Fotso was far from imagining that position of managing director. his career would take him to the Those close to him often describe head of Alios Finance Cameroon, him as a finance enthusiast; a one of the country’s most impor- reputation that he does not shun. tant financial institutions. At the Under his leadership, Alios Finance beginning of his professional years, Cameroon issued its first bond, in he worked at Mazars firm, where 2018. And while the operation was he spent seven years putting his challenging, it recorded a huge expertise to use in France and success. Georges Fotso is also the several countries in Africa. He vice-president of the Professional later returned to work as financial Association of credit institutions of director of a forestry company in Cameroon (APECCAM). Cameroon before joining Alios Finance.

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Thierry KEPEDEN The boss of AXA assurances in Cameroon Thierry Kepeden is the managing diploma from the Institut des assu- director of the Cameroonian subsi- rances de Paris. diary of French insurance group Axa After his studies, Kepeden started Assurances, a position he has been working for Groupama Assurances, occupying for the past 10 years after a Paris-based insurance group. spending two years as director of However, he returned to his home- all the subsidiaries of the insurance country Cameroon in 1990 and group in the CEMAC zone. joined in 1993 the ranks of Axa He holds a Master’s degree in Cameroon which was at the time Business law from the University Union des Assureurs de Paris (UAP). of Paris X, a postgraduate diploma Since then, he has made his way to in insurance from the University the top of the Cameroonian insu- of Paris Panthéon Sorbonne, and a rance sector. Richard LOWE The real indomitable lion of the insurance sector

Richard Lowe heads African regions. Activa assurances, one After graduating from of the most successful Essec in Paris, Lowe financial groups in started his career at Cameroon. The firm is the Cameroonian sub- one of the few in the sidiary of AGF Afrique country that succeeded but resigned in 1998 to in entering the inter- launch his firm - Activa national market after assurances. The risk he attracting renowned took at the time finally international partners. paid off as Activa assu- Activa is now present rances is now one of in several African the most successful countries, most of insurance firms in which are in the Cameroon and Africa. Central and West

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Serge Yanic NANA The ascending financial engineer

To most people in Cameroon, one of Nana’s former collea- Serge Yanic Nana would not gues from the Canadian insu- be considered as famous. rance firm Manulife, “Serge Nevertheless, the Paris is extremely brilliant and inge- Diderot graduate has suppor- nious. His varied background ted many projects carried out and vast experience make him in his country. For example, an outstanding thinker with a when the government was fresh perspective and the right working on the Mbalam iron person for difficult projects. It ore project, he was the one has been a pleasure working called for financial advice. with him.” A great testimony Now, he develops tourism in favor of the founder and projects such as that for the CEO of Financial Capital, Radison Blu Hotel chain an investment and financial which is coming to Cameroon. analysis consulting firm based According to Naveed Irshad, in Douala. Gwendoline ABUNAW A reliable professional at the head of Ecobank Cameroon The University of Buea, After returning to located in the South West Cameroon from the UK, region of Cameroon, she joined Ecobank as has reasons to be proud Head of Corporate Clients, of this former student. a position she occupied Indeed, it is there that for 17 months before Gwendoline Abunaw being hired by Citigroup obtained her Bachelor’s Cameroon. There, she degree in Banking and was in charge of the Finance before continuing firm’s public relations. In her graduate studies at the February 2011 however, Metropolitan University Abunaw decided to return of London, England. to Ecobank Cameroon and However, before heading worked her way through to the latter, she worked the company to become as a loan analyst for managing director in June Standard Chartered Bank 2017. Cameroon.

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Georges Léopold KAGOU A strategist in the insurance sector

One could easily be fooled into especially the non-life segment. believing that the Société Africaine While the Saar’s growth can d’assurance et de réassurance mostly be associated with that of (Saar) runs itself if they did not pay the Afriland First Bank (owned attention to the scarce appea- by Cameroonian billionaire Paul rances of the insurer’s managing Fokam) that holds a majority stake director at conferences and similar in the insurance firm’s capital, events. Truly, Leopold Kagou, is a this does not negate the fact the very discreet yet highly efficient latter remains one of Cameroon’s executive who made the institu- top insurers. A position owes tion one of the major players of primarily to its strong economic the continent’s insurance industry, performances. Marc KAMGAING Manager of the Beac’s pension fund His greatest achievement Kamgaing worked at RMA is certainly the creation of Capital, a major asset mana- Harvest Management, his gement firm attached to the asset management firm. The BMCE Capital group. Next, the latter recently won a contract finance expert landed at Activa to manage the Beac’s pension Assurances where he succes- fund investments in the Central sively assumed the positions African financial market. A feat of director of treasury and vice which many would deem as president of finance. As the logical and obvious conside- group’s VP of finance, he played ring KAMGAING’s professional a major role in its expansion history. across Africa. After his studies in Paris, Marc

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Éric FRIEND For a national economy running at full throttle! He runs Gaz du Cameroun (GDC), the GDC’s extensive pipeline network the country’s first gas products use the resource for various purposes supplier and subsidiary of UK-listed such as powering their turbines. Victoria oil and gas plc. Before that, Less than five years after spudding however, Friend managed many pro- its first wells in the country, Gaz du jects in various countries including Cameroun has won over more than Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, 25 industrial customers in Douala. Australia, Côte d’Ivoire, and now Also, the energy company has Cameroon. For some years, the GDC already injected over $245 million in has been supplying gas to industrial the Logbaba project that includes companies within Douala. The com- two wells, production facilities, and a panies which receive the gas through pipeline network. Alain DUFOURNIER The experienced manager steering the wheels of Tractafric

With 15 years of experience successfully, to ensure that the gained by working as a firm he heads keeps its place in major executive of Peugeot, Cameroon and other Central Alain Dufournier was the African countries. One of the perfect candidate to head executive’s latest achievements Tractafric’s branch in Central is the establishment of an Africa. As general manager assembly unit for Tractafric of the group’s Central African Equipment. The facility is situa- arm, he oversees Tractafric ted in the industrial zone near Motors Cameroon - one of the Kribi (southern region) which country’s oldest firms that pro- also hosts Cameroon’s only vides transportation services deep-water port. for individuals and businesses Tractafric is the subsidiary but also supplies equipment for of Optorg, a Moroccan firm major infrastructure projects. controlled by the Moroccan For the past nine years, holding Al Mada. Dufournier has been working,

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Wilfrid FLOTTES DE POUZOLS The first line of defense against shoddy goods

Most people don’t know him in Since 1988, SGS Cameroon SA Cameroon but he is the main - a subsidiary of the SGS Group actor preventing poor-qua- - has remained Cameroon’s lity goods from entering the preferred partner for trade country. His name is Wilfrid facilitation and import control. Flottes de Pouzols and he Increasing and securing cus- also makes sure that the state toms revenues, as well as boos- receives fair revenues from ting trade are the key objectives its imports. It is almost 17 set for the SGS by the ministry years since he started wor- of Finance. The Douala-based king for Société Générale de company also provides strate- Surveillance (SGS), and almost gic services in agriculture, oil, 12 years since he became active gas, petrochemicals, industry, in the Central Africa region. and certification.

Pierre ZUMBACH Father of the PROMOTE business fair In Cameroon, Pierre Zumbach’s education in Switzerland in his name is associated with younger days. . various economic forums, the PROMOTE, which he has most prestigious of which is been organizing for the the International Exhibition Cameroonian government for for Enterprises, SMEs, and several years, closely aligns Partnership - commonly known with his desire to foster interac- as PROMOTE. Zumbach is also tions between businesspeople behind YaFe, (Yaoundé en fête) from different parts of the and more recently the interna- world. Over the years, this fair tional fair PmExchange. has become a real business While only a few people know carrefour where new business it, the Genevan who studied opportunities are born. economics and social sciences was a major champion of social

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Lucas DJEMMO A big shot in the building materials sector Lucas Djemmo is the boss of Sorepco, a company that was for a long time known as a retailer of construction materials. Over the years, however, the firm has diversified and sells many other products all over Cameroon. Estimating that the time was right to do so, Djemmo entered the real estate market. The successful entrepreneur currently owns several tourist accom- modation businesses, most of them located in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital. Djemmo, who is also one of the country’s biggest importers, is surprisingly discreet.

André SIAKA From the president of GICAM to head of a top construction firm This graduate of Polytech Paris (1974 to be considered as a symbol of some class) is probably the most famous sort representing the brewing firm. business leader in Cameroon. Two Truth is, not many people could pic- major reasons explain why André ture the SABC without André Siaka Siaka is so popular. The first is that or André Siaka without the SABC. he was the head of the country’s After bidding farewell to the group, largest brewing company and a instead of pursuing his dream to subsidiary of Castel - the SABC, for 25 become a banker as many had expec- years. The second is that he presided ted - especially since he was for some for many years the Inter-Patronal time the acting chairman of Ecobank Grouping of Cameroon (GICAM), the - he made more waves by venturing most important employers’ organiza- into the construction sector. He tion in the country. founded Round’Af, a company that In 2013, when Siaka left the SABC, quickly became one of Cameroon’s the whole Cameroonian business top construction firms. industry was shaken as he had come

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Colin EBARKO MUKETE He chairs MTN Cameroon’s board and is part of its shareholding

Ranked by the U.S magazine Forbes portfolio of several large Anglo- as one of Cameroon’s richest per- Saxon companies established in sons, Colin Abarko Mukete chairs Cameroon. the board of directors of MTN In addition to assets in agri- Cameroon, the subsidiary of the business and real estate, in South African eponymous telecom 2015, the billionaire acquired a giant. He also holds at least 20% stake in International Mining & of the stake of the operator which Infrastructure Corporation (IMIC), leads Cameroon’s mobile market. a British junior mining company The Cameroonian tycoon is also that holds exploration licenses in present in the communication Africa, including a license for the market with television channel Nkout iron deposit in the southern STV. Also, he owns Dstv, an adver- region of Cameroon. tising agency that manages the Nana BOUBA A shepherd with amazing ambitions For years, this economic operator beyond Cameroonian borders. has controlled the distribution of It is on this business that Bouba mass consumption food products turned his full attention after (sugar, rice, salt, tomatoes, etc.) in selling the Nana Bouba Company the country; knowingly through (Nabco), which used to produce Société alimentaire du Cameroun the Planète fruit juice and Opur (Soacam). And while the latter mineral water. is now on the decline, it remains In Adamoua, the self-made-man that Soacam greatly helped Nana owns a ranch with hundreds of Bouba build an empire that spans thousands of cattle. Additionally, many sectors, ranging from agri- he currently develops a gigantic business to construction, public industrial oil palm plantation works, and animal husbandry. project in the Littoral region. His company, Azur, produces the The plantation should supply a eponymous refined oil and house- refinery which he also owns in hold soap, which are used every Douala. day all over the country and even

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Théodore NSANGOU He stands at the top of all energy infrastructures For several years now, he has been Since the impoundment of the the General Director of Electricity Lom Pangar dam, which favored Development Corporation the launch of the Nachtigal pro- (EDC), the state-owned com- ject (420 MW), the Bamendjing, pany operating in the electricity Mape and Mbakaou dams have sector. As such, this engineer led also fallen under the EDC’s the Lom Pangar dam (6 billion portfolio, with Nsangou in charge. m3) construction project in the During a recent field visit, the eastern region of Cameroon. Lom manager announced that the Pangar dam is the largest and historic company is committed to most strategic energy infrastruc- rapidly completing the Memve’élé ture ever built in Cameroon. It dam, which will deliver 211 MW regulates upstream the flow of the of energy from the southern Sanaga River that hosts 75% of the region. country’s hydroelectric potential. Mohamadou BOUNOU The miracle worker of the cotton sector After accumulating losses esti- expected. mated at around XAF35 billion The plan conceived and imple- over the three preceding years, mented by Bayero Bounou was Société de développement a true blessing - not only for the du Coton (Sodecoton) finally Sodecoton but most impor- restarted recording profits at tantly for the 250,000 farmers the end of the 2018-2019 cotton the firm employs in Cameroon’s season. The positive perfor- three northern regions, its mance is mostly attributable to poorest regions. Mohamadou Bayero Bounou, The Sodecoton’s shareholding who was appointed to head includes the Cameroonian the agribusiness company in State, French company 2016 as it was going through a Geocoon, and Cameroon’s ri- major crisis. Immediately after chest man, Baba Danpullo. The assuming the position, the company is the pumping heart agro-economist launched an of industrial activities in the ambitious restructuring plan northern part of the country. that delivered the results he

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Louis Paul MOTAZE Keeper of public wealth

Minister of Finance in Cameroon Although he is now under the spot- since 2018, Louis Paul Motazé has light as Minister of Finance, Motaze twice been the country’s Minister was in a not-so-distant past one of of Economy, Planning, and Land the kingpins - a relatively discreet Management. First between 2007 one, however - of the vast infras- and 2011, then between 2015 and tructure construction program 2018. As Minister of Economy, launched by the country (the deep this high-ranking official has been seaport of Kribi, the Lom Pangar at the heart of the government’s dam, the Mbalam mining project, development strategy. For the past the Memvé’élé dam...). From 2011 two years, he has been handling to 2015 when he was Secretary- Cameroon’s public finances amid General of the Prime Minister’s two major crises: the Boko Haram- Office, he chaired a superstructure Secessionist conflict and the most created to coordinate the imple- recent Covid-19 pandemic. mentation of these projects.

Mohamadou ABBO OUSMANOU The 83-year billionaire industrialist who refuses to bend the knee

The empire that this former assistant they used to be. truck driver built over the decades, Fortunately, one of the Abbo group’s thanks to his tenacity and intelli- firms - Maïserie du Cameroun gence, is not as prosperous as it was (Maïscam) - still stands tall amid 10 years ago. The fact is, Mohamadou headwinds that seem determined to Abbo Ousmanou has aged, and just plunge the billionaire and his assets like him, his businesses seem to slow- into oblivion. Indeed, this agro-in- ly wither as the years pass. Société dustrial unit still rules undisputed camerounaise des moulins du center, over the local production of maize Société camerounaise de transforma- grits. Every year, Maïscam sup- tion de céréales, Nouvelles sucrières plies about 10,000 tons of grits to du Cameroun (Nosuca), Cameroon Brasseries du Cameroun (a subsidia- Salt Company, Cameroon Packing ry of Castel group) which the brewer Company...which all belong to the uses to make beer. billionaire from Ngaoundéré, are indeed no longer as successful as

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Nassrallah EL SAHELY The shark who rules over Cameroon’s mineral water…

Nassrallah El Sahely is the Tangui mineral water brand. worthy son of his father Marouf “Sources du Pays,” which is El Sahely. When the latter was headed by Nassrallah El Sahely, leaving his native country controls 61% of the mineral Lebanon, he certainly could not water market in Cameroon imagine that the family busi- (data from 2017), thanks to ness would prosper so much its brands “Supermont” and that his own son would become “Opur” (bought from Nabco). Its the leader of the mineral water products are also very popular market in Cameroon by 2016. in Angola, the Central African Yet, Nassrallah EL SAHELY Republic, Congo, and Zambia. did it even though this sector Also, the El Sahely family ope- was controlled for decades by rates in the fruit juice market, Source Tangui, a local subsidiary with the “Planète” brand notably. of Castel group and company behind the famous Source

Augusto SOARES DOS REIS The futuristic power producer An electrical engineer and business management graduate, Augusto Soares Dos Reis has 26 years of experience in electricity generation, distribution, and marketing as well as in the development of major investment projects. Thanks to his experience, he was appointed Managing Director of Nachtigal Hydro Power Company, the company entrusted with the construction of a 420MW hydropower plant on the Sanaga River in central Cameroon. This energy infrastructure will produce 30% of the country’s current installed capacity. With a 255 KV transmission line spanning over a 50 KM stretch, the Nachtigal power plant dam is the future of electricity in Cameroon. Cameroonian authorities expect that the infrastructure will help the country bridge its energy deficit and even enable the export of electricity to other Central African countries.

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Rahul MITTAL He heads one of Cameroon’s largest wheat flour supplier

Rahul Mittal’s professional In the Central African nation, career began in 2002 when he Olam is a major supplier of started working for Coca Cola’s wheat flour, which is the main subsidiary in India (where he raw material used to make bread completed his full curriculum). and doughnuts - two widely After spending about three years consumed food products in as an employee of the U.S giant, Cameroon. Olam Cameroon is he joined Olam Group, one of also the largest importer of rice, the subsidiaries of the powerful which is the most consumed Singaporean sovereign fund food product in the country; Temasek. Five years into his new far more than cocoa and coffee occupation, he was transferred which the Singapore-based com- to Cameroon to head the group’s pany also trades significantly in subsidiary in the country. Cameroon.

Adrien BROCHE The concessionaire of oil and gas fields

Be not fooled by his juvenile features comes from concessions in Rio del for he is a man with a great responsi- Rey, Moudi, and Ebome. Perenco bility which is to manage the two Cameroon also manages four pro- subsidiaries of the Franco-British oil duction sharing contracts with the and gas group Perenco in Cameroon. SNH, including three that are already Adrien Broche is the new mana- active (Bolongo, Dissoni, Moabi), ging director appointed to hold this and one still at an exploratory phase position. A decision motivated by the (Bomana in the Rio Del Rey basin). executive’s experience in the oil sec- In 2018, Perenco and SNH chose to tor (he worked at Total for 10 years). develop the LNG (Liquefied Natural Since 1993, Perenco has been the Gas) market with the Hilli Episeyo, major partner of public oil company the world’s second-largest floating Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures natural gas liquefaction plant, instal- (SNH) for the management of oil and led offshore the seaside town of Kribi gas projects in Cameroon. in the southern region of Cameroon. The firm’s oil output in Cameroon

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Andrew ROSS The man in charge of the Guinness tap in Cameroon

It has been almost two years Behind the success of the since he assumed the highest Cameroonian subsidiary of the position at Guinness Cameroon. Diageo group is a marketing His only mission: Make sure that strategy that enabled many young Cameroonians continue enjoying people to find a job and gain their the Guinness beer which is first professional experience. commonly called “1759” in the Guinness Cameroon, which is the country. main client of sorghum farmers For the British brewer present in in the north, recently launched, the country since 1967, Cameroon in Douala, Central Africa’s first is not just another market - It liquor bottling factory. is its second-biggest market in Africa and the fifth in the world. Ousmanou KOUOTOU A confirmed logistician

He is one of the numerous students Douala’s Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (Essec) can be proud of. After his master’s degree in administration and business management, Ousmanou Kouotou entered the professional world working for companies such as Camgaz and SABC group. However, he consecrated the past 30 years of his life to DHL, one of the leading logistics companies in the world. For the past 7 years, this alumnus of the most prestigious business school in Cameroon has been helping strengthen the group’s presence in Cameroon. Several people in the Cameroonian business community speak of him as one of the most accomplished managers of his generation.

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Ndiaye MOHAMADOU The hidden hero of sweet treat lovers This Senegalese has been the Created in 1967, this agro-in- head of sweet treats factory dustrial unit, which processes Chocolaterie et confiserie du hundreds of tons of cocoa every Cameroun (Chococam) for year for the local and regional several years now. Few children markets, recently diversified its and young people know this, but operations in the framework of a large proportion of the choco- the expansion plan implemented late-based sweets and hot drinks by its parent company. Apart on the Cameroonian market are from chocolates and other sweets, produced locally by this subsi- Chococam now distributes the diary of South African food giant rice brand «Tastic» and beauty Tiger Brand. products «Miadi» in Cameroon. It is one of the oldest and most important companies in the agroindustrial sector of Cameroon. Charles Rollin OMBANG EKATH The mighty microfinance manager

Charles Rollin Ombang Ekath is Gabon. The extensive microfinance known for at least two things. The network provides financial solutions first is for being a pastor. The second to more than 101,466 clients, who role he is widely known to occupy is hold 107,442 accounts. It is based on that of CEO of Régionale d’Epargne these good performances that the et de Crédit, a microfinance institu- company’s shareholders authorized tion he founded. on June 15, 2019, the increase of its Régionale d’Epargne et de Crédit has share capital to XAF 12 billion. 40 offices in Cameroon and four in

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Hayssam El JAMMAL King of steel

Prometal, the company where he Hyssam EL Jammal supervises is the Managing Director, is the about 1,000 workers, making sure strategic partner of several infras- each of them performs their job tructure projects in Cameroon. The with precision and delivers the best company has worked on the Lom quality of work possible. In only Pangar dam; the second bridge ten years of operation, Prometal over the Wouri River, in Douala; has become an important actor in as well as the two stadiums of ferrous building materials in the Olembé, in Yaoundé, and Japoma, Cemac area. in Douala, which will host the next African Cup of Nations in early 2022. Thierry NYAMEN A processor of local products

Thierry Nyamen is the embodi- easy for the young graduate who ment of a good investor for the filled about 750 job applica- Cameroonian government. After tions without being called back passing his science baccalau- once. Tired of his situation, he reate in 1989, he was awarded decided to start something, a scholarship to further his which, 16 years later, turned studies in Ukraine thanks to a into a solid agribusiness SME. partnership between Cameroon and the East European country. Thierry Nyamen is now the head There, he emerged top of his of a company that produces class and completed a Ph.D. ready-to-cook soy porridge, in agricultural mechanization peanuts, coated croquettes, and techniques. For his thesis, he many other food products that designed a machine that turns can be found in supermarkets raw peanouts into powder and under the brand “Tanty”. The oil. entrepreneur is confident that his company can withstand At the time, he could have competition from food giant stayed in Europe like many of Nestlé in segments where the his compatriots, but he decided Swiss group is not the most to come back and serve his competitive, such as organic home country. Things were not food.

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Salamatou BANTSE Revolutionizing business mobility She lives by the Her company touts a words “failure lies local service, which in our weaknesses.” combines the quality Salamatou Bantse, of major competitors 42, graduated in the such as Avis, and the chemical sciences touch of privileged when she started her customer relations car rental business. that only a medium- Today, she manages sized company can Pomme Rouge, a offer. She intends to company that offers popularize useful mobility solutions and profitable mobi- for big companies lity for her customer in Douala. She portfolio, which she works with Chinese generally prefers to Huawei, Moroccan call “partners”. Cimaf, U.S. Citibank, and French Total. Ludovic SIELIENOU Master of domestic gas distribution

In 11 years, this former student Affairs, he deploys all his mana- of Libermann high school and gerial skills to ensure the per- former intern of Banco Sabadell, manent availability of domestic Spain’s 5th largest private bank, gas in Cameroon. has worked his way up through all levels of the Cameroonian He was especially noticed in Metal Transformation Company 2016 when he managed to (SCTM), which he joined in get SCTM out of the embargo 2009 as an assistant. imposed by its supplier Tradex, which was claiming huge Since 2011, Ludovic Sielienou unpaid bills. Given the size of has been the MD of one of the SCTM’s network and its impor- major domestic gas distribu- tance in the country’s gas distri- tion companies in Cameroon bution sector, the government and Central Africa. Holder of a intervened to help the company master’s degree in International settle its debt.

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Julien BESANCON Five-star hotelier

He manages the biggest hotel In 2013, his professionalism in Cameroon -Hilton- located earned him the title of Food right in the heart of the city & Beverage Manager of the of Yaoundé. He joined the Year Hilton Arabian Peninsula. Cameroonian group in August He received this honor for 2019, but before that, he was his performance, well above the operation manager for expectations. The Hilton Hotel Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and in Yaoundé, which he is now in Hilton Dubai The Walk. Holder charge of, is a privileged place of a Bachelor’s degree in hotel of residence and passage for management obtained at the national and international busi- Vatel Institute of Lyon, France, nessmen. It is also the place of his mission is to maintain the stay for distinguished guests of reputation and leadership the Government of Cameroon, of the only 5-star hotel in including Heads of State. Cameroon.

Ludovic MINOUE Exporter of 100% organic products After working in various types The academic background of this of companies, Ludovic Minoue economic operator has prepared now puts his long experience as him to be a salesman. He obtained a marketer at the service of Made a bachelor’s degree in marketing of Africa Sarl, the company he and his higher degrees in France, created in 2018. Made of Africa where he studied. When he retur- Sarl is positioned as one of the ned to Cameroon, he first worked most successful companies in the for Total Cameroon, then for sale of dried fruits for European Biotropicale, where he got into the markets, where demand for this organic farming business. Ludovic type of product is exploding. The Minoue evolves and continues company has a production capa- to grow in a sector with strong city of 126 tons of dried fruits per growth potential. year and works with 176 small- scale producers who supply two processing units.

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Jean Claude NGBWA Head of the Unified Financial Market

Former Secretary-General of main lever for the development of the Inter-African Conference on the CEMAC zone, where access to Insurance Markets (CIMA) -which financing is difficult. regulates insurance markets in “The action plan that BVMAC has for Central and West Africa- and 2020 requires a minimum capitaliza- the then former president of the tion of XAF1,200 billion on the equity Financial Market Commission, segment with the assumption of six which used to regulate the defunct listed companies at a rate of one per Cameroonian financial market, country. Minimum capitalization of Jean Claude Ngbwa is, since 2019, XAF1,000 billion is required for the the very first Managing Director of bond component; this time with the the Douala-based Central African assumption of the bond issue of each Unified Stock Exchange (BVMAC). Member State,” he announced in late With his position, Mr. Ngbwa is at December 2019, during a works- the heart of the regional strategy hop organized by the regulator for the development of a modern (Cosumaf) in Libreville, Gabon. financial market, likely to be the Minette LIBOM LI LIKENG The star of Cameroon’s customs

Minister of Posts and put an end to the prac- Telecommunications since tice of declaring goods in October 2015, Minette transit and then selling Libom Li Likeng was once them on the Cameroonian the head of the Customs market without paying Directorate at the Ministry customs duties. She of Finance, where she is became a true tax collec- best known for her trans- tor and contributed to a formative reforms. These significant improvement reforms include the well- in the collection of public sung GPS-based tracking revenue. This is evidenced of goods in transit on the by the fact that her Cameroonian territory. departure as head of the Through this measure, national customs adminis- which was badly perceived tration preceded a decline by economic operators, in customs revenue. the former Customs MD

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Modeste MOPA FATOING The taxman He is the youngest tax mana- contacts for tax operations ging director in Cameroon. (thus reducing corruption) Appointed head of this and the creation/reorganiza- administration in 2013, when tion of special units for the he was only 38, Modeste monitoring of SMEs and large Mopa Fatoing has quickly companies - which allowed demonstrated his capacity as better monitoring of the a leader. Only 6 months after corporate world. Although he took office, the downward these reforms are welcome trend in revenue started by the public treasury, some to improve, with a positive economic operators see it as impact on revenue collection fiscal harassment. since then. This was moti- A few months ago, local vated by reforms initiated media revealed a letter by this former Adviser on addressed to the Head of Tax Administration at the State by the president of the International Monetary employers’ association Gicam Fund’s (IMF) Regional demanding the dismissal of Technical Assistance Center Modeste Mopa, who the asso- for West Africa (Afritac West). ciation accused of abusing Reforms included the digi- the corporate world in the tization of services, which pursuit of fiscal performance. significantly reduced physical e Joël Nana KONTCHOU Let there be light! Joël Nana Kontchou was the population. appointed Managing In 2019, this investment Director of the power utility program also prompted the Eneo in July 2014. His impli- State of Cameroon to extend cation, coupled with the by 10 years the concession impoundment of the Lom agreement of Actis, which Pangar dam, which now controls the capital of Eneo. improves the water level in In addition to owing light to the other dams during low- this former Schlumberger water periods, has resulted MD for Central and West in a significant reduction of Africa, consumers also owe disruptions in the natio- Joël Nana Kontchou the nal grid. The ambitious company’s name, “Eneo investment program put in Cameroun,” meaning place by Joël Nana upon his “Energy of Cameroon.” arrival was well received by

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Daniel KALBASSOU Sahelian-inspired finance

Daniel Kalbassou has been mana- that time, we sell what we set aside ging Le Crédit du Sahel, a micro- and collect our interest income. finance institution established in When there is a surplus, we put the three northern regions, which it in the accounts at the disposal are also the poorest in Cameroon, of the farmers concerned,” Mr. for several years. He had to adapt Kalbassou explained. his financial intermediation stra- At the end of the FY2014, the tegy to reality in these areas. outstanding loans of Crédit du “We came up with the idea of Sahel approached XAF12 billion, financing upstream the acquisition two-thirds of which were granted of inputs to increase production, to the rural world, mainly farmers and recovering, during the harvest, and breeders. The institution the portion of the production that, had about 60,000 open accounts, after evaluation, will allow us to 10,000 of which belonged to obtain our repayment. We keep farmers’ groups. The latter num- that production as collateral in a bered no less than 80,000 people, storage system that we’ve put in who chose this option to share place. This stock is kept for two or the costs of owning and mana- three months, at the end of which ging an account. the prices generally go up again. At

Alamine Ousmane MEY The economic planner

From 2011 to 2018, Alamine investments through a follow-up Ousmane Mey served as the of the Public Investment Budget, minister of finance, where he which is nearly 30% of the initiated several major reforms. country’s total budget. He became minister of economy, The former managing director planning, and territory develop- of Afriland First Bank is also the ment following a cabinet res- chief negotiator of all financial huffle in 2018. With his position, agreements approved to the Mey pilots various development Cameroonian government by projects within the remit of his international lenders. department and controls public

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Robert HELOU A big agribusinessman

Robert Helou became the of Cameroonians. manager of Nestlé Cameroun, More than one million Nestlé the local branch of agribusi- products are sold on the ness giant Nestlé, on March local market every day. These 1, 2019. Since then, this include dairy products (milk holder of an MBA in Business powder, sweetened condensed Administration has been at milk), the famous seasoning the heart of major managerial cube Maggi, flavorings, and and social issues, having the Nescafé. daunting responsibility of kee- ping production at an optimal level and sustaining millions Yaouba BELLO The discreet carrier

Known for being very discreet, this business owner avoids any media exposure. He believes in the words “work hard in silence, let your success be your noise” as the saying goes. Touristique Express, the company he manages, has positioned itself as the leader in the segment of high-quality public transport in Cameroon for the past decade. Touristique group also operates two branches namely Touristique Voyage and Touristiques Colis and has become the leader in VIP transport between the two capitals of the country. In 2019, the group’s workforce reached a little more than 1,120 people.

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Pierluigi PASSERA A cocoa tycoon

Head of Société Industrielle Cameroon’s cocoa produc- camerounaise de cacaos tion and controls about (Sic Cacaos) for the last 6 70% of the processing years, Pierluigi Passera has activity in the country. become a mogul in the local The government has strong cocoa segment. Under his hope in the development of management, Sic Cacaos a local chocolate industry, has undertaken a solid mainly because of the many revival of its activity with, jobs it can generate. Eyes in particular, the impro- are also on Mr. Passera, vement of bean crushing concerning his company’s capacities. The company is positive impact on this sec- currently the first buyer of tor rich in opportunities.

Abdeladim ARNOUS The ambitious Moroccan cement- manufacturer Abdeladim Arnous is the direc- Lafarge Holcim (Cimencam) and tor-general of the Cameroonian Dangote Cement. arm of Ciments de l’Afrique Since he joined Cimaf Cameroon (Cimaf), a cement manufactu- three years ago, Abdeladim ring company that has a foot- Arnous has engaged many re- print in many countries on the forms to improve the company’s continent. On the Cameroonian position on the market. In 2019, market, Cimaf produces about the local subsidiary announced 500,000 tons of cement a year, big investments of XAF19 billion almost rivaling giants like to triple its production.

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Pierre SIME Boss of land freight transport

He has been chairing the manage- ver of the sector at XAF175 billion; a ment committee of the Bureau of relatively good performance despite Land Freight Management (BGFT), the development in recent years of a public body that manages all illegal and own-account transport of land freight transport operations goods, which today would represent in Cameroon, for the past 23 years. more than 40% of the activity. On the He was appointed in his capacity as other hand, Pierre Sime, who also president of the National Union of owns a travel agency called Binam, is Road Transporters of Cameroon, a suspected in particular of not having position he has held for more than 32 paid various levies to the State. An years. Pierre Sime is like the pum- inspection mission is currently being ping heart of a strategic sector for conducted at the Bureau of Land Cameroon’s economy, especially as a Freight Management to shed light on significant share of goods are trans- the case. ported by trucks. In 2017, BGFT estimated the turno-

Alain Noël Olivier MEKULU MVONDO The austere pension fund manager

Known for his rigorous manage- XAF320 billion in 2019, including ment as the head of the national nearly XAF221 billion in liquid social security fund (CNPS), Alain assets (nearly XAF180 billion in Noël Olivier Mekulu Mvondo term deposits and XAF41 billion Akame is what you might call a in bonds). true leader. Since he sat on the When this former state inspector MD chair on April 8, 2018, the took over as head of this public man has demonstrated his ability entity, cash reserves were only and figures exist to prove it. XAF13 billion. At that time, the In about ten years, annual pension fund had even accumu- operating expenses (excluding lated a social and bank debt of salaries) have dropped by 76%, XAF20 billion. “Here we go for from XAF17 billion to less than the next fifty years without any XAF4 billion; and the asset port- particular difficulties,” said a folio jumped from nearly XAF85 proud Mvondo Akame. billion in 2015 to more than

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Yao AÏSSATOU The State investor

As Managing Director of Cameroon “the factory of the Cameroon’s national investment new industrial Africa by 2050.” company (SNI), this economist But the latest results achieved rules a portfolio of 32 companies, by SNI, under the leadership of 24 of which are in normal opera- the president of women for the tion, six in a cessation of activity ruling party (RDPC), are not (SPM, SITRAFER, SCS, SATC, assuring. Between 2016 and 2018, MILKYWAY, and CAMELCAB) fixed assets fell from XAF62.2 and one in liquidation billion to XAF51.2 billion, and (CAMSHIP IC). By sectors, there the net result fell from a surplus are six companies in the primary of nearly XAF1 billion to a deficit sector, 14 in the secondary sector of nearly XAF5 billion, reflecting and 12 in the tertiary sector. a deterioration of the portfolio. The national investment During this period, the flow of company is expected to play a new investments also decreased, crucial role in the implemen- which prompted Yao Aïssatou to tation of the Industrialization launch a reform, although this Master Plan, which aims to make has been slow to materialize.

Adrien BECHONNET The French face in the downstream oil sector Present in Cameroon since and improve the size of the com- 1947, the French group Total has pany’s network to rival Tradex, become the leader of oil product which offers a payment card distribution on the local market dedicated to businesses. With a with 45% of market shares and workforce of 226 employees and a network of 184 gas stations a share capital of XAF12 billion, across the territory. A leadership Total Cameroon also owns stakes position that the former MD of in many companies operating in Total Togo, who has been mana- the downstream oil sector. The ging the Cameroonian subsidiary group holds a 4% share in Sonara since September 2018, works to -Cameroon’s only refinery, an improve. 18% stake in the Company of In June 2019, Total Cameroon, Petroleum Depots (SCDP)- which under the leadership of Adrien has a monopoly in fuel storage, Bechonnet, launched an oil pay- and a 20% interest in local lubri- ment card dedicated to the gene- cant blending facility SCEFL. ral public. The aim is to safeguard

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Pascal FERRIER Specialist of dessert bananas

This agronomist, a graduate of 245 workers. the National School of Agronomy Despite the insecurity maintai- and Food Industries (Ensqia) in ned by the Anglophone seces- France, took up his position as sionists in the Southwest region, Managing Director of Société des where the company has part of Plantations du Haut Penja in the its production area (more than aftermath of the fire that ravaged 5,000 ha), Pascal Ferrier has the company’s packaging unit succeeded in increasing the com- located in Tiko, Southwest pany’s banana production from region. The tragedy that happe- 165,000 to 187,423 tons between ned on the night of July 14 to 15, 2018 and 2019. This performance 2018, was reportedly the act of made it possible to preserve Anglophone separatists. 7,000 direct jobs and partly Today, activity has resumed on offset the removal of Cameroon this site of about 300 ha, 185 ha Development Corporation (CDC) of which are banana plantations. from the list of Cameroonian ba- Société des Plantations du Haut nana exporters, due to insecurity. Penja has a total workforce of Abdullahi BABA The man behind the success of Dangote Cement in Cameroon Appointed Managing Ahmadou Bello University in Director of Dangote Cement Nigeria. The Nigerian multi- Cameroon in 2015, when the national suffered a 6.5% drop company began operations, in turnover, which fell to less Abdullahi Baba has demons- than XAF70 billion for 1.1 mil- trated his ability, grabbing lion tons of cement sold. The the first place on the market company, which therefore slid from the local subsidiary of from the first-place position, LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique, attributed the poor results to after 48 years of monopoly. In the crisis in the Anglophone 2018, the new market leader regions and the “new capaci- owned 45% of the market ties of competitors.” Indeed, share with a turnover of more with its new plant inaugura- than XAF86.4 billion, far ted in April 2019 in a suburb ahead of Cimencam (36.8% of of Yaoundé, Cimencam has market share for a turnover of increased its annual produc- XAF70.7 billion). tion capacity to 2.2 million But 2019 was not that fruitful tons, when Dangote was at 1.5 for this chemical engineer million tons. who graduated from the

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Victor MBEMI NYAKNGA The linchpin of the power system

As the Managing Director rehabilitating and building the of the national power trans- country’s electricity transmission mission company (Sonatrel), infrastructure. Victor Mbemi Nyaknga is a key If the success of this task is crucial player in the electricity sector for the take-off of the electricity in Cameroon. Since the power sector, it also conditions the deve- utility Eneo stopped transmission lopment of Cameroon’s industrial activity in 2018, Sonatrel has been fabric, which aims to be an emer- responsible for the management, ging economy by 2035. According operation, maintenance, and to official data, the aging trans- above all the development of the mission facilities cause the loss of public electricity transmission at least 6.5% of national electricity networks. In other words, this production. And the World Bank chief civil administrator, who has estimates the financing needs for been leading the public com- renovation work at XAF850 billion pany over the past four years, over the next few years. has the huge responsibility of

Benoît GALICHET The rebound of Cimencam

Benoît Galichet, 50, a graduate has at least closed the gap. “We in mechanical engineering from regained leadership on the École Nationale supérieure des Cameroonian market since the Arts et Métiers in France, is in beginning of 2019,” Emmanuel the process of succeeding in Rigaux, CEO of LafargeHolcim the mission he was entrusted Maroc Afrique, said in April 2019, with when he took over as head on the sidelines of the inaugura- of Cimenteries du Cameroun tion in Cameroon of the compa- (Cimencam) in July 2018. He is in ny’s new plant with an installed charge of bringing the company capacity of 500,000 tons. At that back to the top of the market. time, the rival Dangote Cement Indeed, the arrival in March 2015 recorded a 6.5% decline in sales of Dangote Cement capsized the and attributed this drop to the leadership of the local arm of new capacities of its competitors. LafargeHolcim-Maroc Afrique Benoît Galichet’s challenge is after its 48-year monopoly. therefore to consolidate this But in less than a year, Benoît regained position in an increa- Galichet, who has been with the singly competitive market. group for more than 23 years,

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Patrice MELOM Make the port of Kribi competitive

From the idea to the com- Economics (ISSEA). pletion of the project of the To date, his greatest chal- industrial-port complex of lenge is to improve the port’s Kribi until its commissioning, competitiveness and stimu- Patrice Melom was there from late the productivity of the the beginning to the end; to PAK to fill the coffers of the the extent that one cannot State which has invested up to talk about the most modern XAF470 billion in this project, port terminal in Central Africa according to the World Bank. without mentioning him. Having recently signed an For some observers, his nomi- agreement with the National nation in 2016 as MD of the Agency for Standards and Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) Quality (Anor), intending to was nothing but a deserved improve the competitiveness reward for this double gra- of the young port, Patrice duate of the Higher Institute Melom has just concluded an of Public Management (ISMP) iron ore shipment agreement and the Sub-regional Institute with Congo-based Avima Iron of Statistics and Applied Ore Limited. Patrick GRANDCOLAS Captain of a drowning ship

Rubber prices, which have been due to economic strains. on a downward trend since The situation is all the more June 2019, further tumbled difficult to manage for the gra- over the following year. From duate of the École supérieure January to May 2020, prices d’agro-développement inter- were 147.8 yen per kg, down national (ISTOM) of Angers 22.3% from 190.2 yen/kg during (France), as CMCP, which the same period in 2019. The owns, in addition to Hevecam, situation directly affects Hévéa Sud Cameroun Hévéa S.A. Cameroun S.A. (Hevecam), (Sudcam) and JFL in Malaysia, 90% owned by Halcyon Agri posted operating losses of $16 through its subsidiary Corrie million (over XAF9 billion) in MacColl Plantations (CMCP). 2019. Patrick Grandcolas has Patrick Grandcolas, who the big challenge to get CMCP has been running Hevecam back on track so that it can since February 2019, has just return to balance in 2021 as ini- announced that the company tially envisaged by the parent had to lay off a bit more than company. 1,000 workers of a total of 6,000

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Mohamed DIOP The super logistician Although it has lost the contai- ployees across the country (Douala, ner terminal deal for the port of Kribi, Yaoundé, Ngaoundéré, Douala, the Bolloré group’s foot- Bélabo, and Garoua), the graduate print remains strong on Cameroon’s in project management (Sup de economy. The multinational is at Co Marrakech) and economic the heart of transport and logistics diagnosis of firms facing interna- in all key sectors of the economy: tional competition (Grenoble Alpes wood, mining, oil and gas, telecom- University) operates port conces- munications, food, and consumer sions (Société d’exploitation des products, health, and humanita- parcs à bois du Cameroun, Kribi rian aid. Within this organization, Conteneurs Terminal) and rail Mohamed Diop holds the posi- concessions (Camrail), to name but tion of regional director for the a few. Gulf of Guinea, with residence in In 2019, the Bolloré group’s sub- Cameroon. sidiary Camrail transported 1.6 The man, with more than 22 years million tons of goods while Kribi of experience in transport and ter- Conteneurs Terminal handled minal operations, is responsible for 157,000 containers. ensuring the smooth running of all these activities. With his 1,100 em- Marthe Angéline MINJA Chief Investment Facilitator

As Director-General of the inputs for agribusinesses. Investment Promotion A little more than six years Agency (IPA), this admi- after the effective imple- nistrator, who studied at mentation of this law, IPA the University of Paris 1 announced last May it has Panthéon-Sorbonne and signed 225 agreements the Neuilly-sur-Seine with various national and Business School in France, foreign investors for cumu- is in charge of promoting lative investment inten- Cameroon as a destina- tions of XAF3,846 billion tion for investors. Marthe and about 74,000 projected Angéline Minja is en- jobs. The former Secretary- trusted with implementing General at the Ministry of the 2013 law on incentives Tourism will now have to for private investment in make sure the promises the country. Her role will materialize. So far, 40% of be even more crucial with the projects covered by the government’s decision these agreements have to focus on increasing been launched according the local supply of mass to IPA’s figures. consumption products and

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Mathurin KAMDEM The architect of Douala Grand Mall

In September 2020, the largest of the project is underway and Mall in Central Africa will open includes the construction of a not far from the Douala airport, five-star hotel and an office park in the Cameroonian economic opposite the Mall. For this project capital. The designer of this impo- valued at XAF80 billion, Mathurin sing infrastructure built on 18,000 Kamdem raised funds from the m2, with 160 shops, combining project partner British invest- commercial and leisure activities, ment fund Actis. Better still, the is Mathurin Kamdem. This engi- Douala Grand Mall & Business neer quit an enviable senior ma- Park, whose current occupancy nagement position at Bouygues rate is close to 70% (with a projec- in France to put his expertise at tion of 100% by the end of 2020), the service of his country. will inject a total of XAF30 billion The Douala Grand Mall & into the local economy through Business Park, his very first various equipment purchases and investment, is expected to create service payments. 4,500 jobs. The second phase

Frédéric MVONDO Economist turned energy provider

This economist and former extension of the Kribi power sta- financial director of AES Sonel tion from 216 MW to 330 MW. (now Eneo), who shuns the spot- Frédéric Mvondo, affectionately light, is nevertheless a source known as “Fred” at Globeleq has of light. As managing director an eye on the transport of electri- of the local subsidiary of the city in the country. He sits on the independent producer Globeleq, board of directors of Sonatrel, Frédéric Mvondo controls a 304 the operator of the national MW power source; with Globeleq electricity transmission network. holding a majority share in the Fred has more than a decade of Dibamba heavy fuel oil power experience in the energy sector plant (88 MW) and the Kribi gas- and has also a keen interest in fired power plant (216 MW). In the sugar sector. With his com- Q1 2020, these facilities supplied pany Insuco, Fred is one of the 19% of the energy consumed in major importers of this widely Cameroon. Globeleq plans to consumed product in Cameroon. boost its capacity through the

56 N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 FOCUS

Li JIANBIH The pampered builder He is unknown to the merate. CCCC was already awarded Cameroonians, yet Li Jianbih is via its subsidiaries, and without the face of China Communications competitive bidding, the construc- Construction Company (CCCC) tion of the Yaoundé-Nsimalen (rural in Cameroon. The multinational section), Yaoundé-Douala (phase is the company leading all the 1), and Kribi-Lolabé highways. ongoing highway and port projects These three projects together cover in the country. In his capacity as 109.3 km for an estimated cost of regional director of the Chinese nearly XAF730 billion or an average public group in Cameroon, Li of XAF6.7 billion for each kilome- Jianbih signed a commercial deal in ter. The Chinese group is also in December 2019 with the Minister of the process of being awarded the Housing and Urban Development management of these road infras- (Minhdu), for the construction of tructures. CCCC built the port of the urban section of the Yaoundé- Kribi (more than XAF800 billion for Nsimalen highway, a dozen kilome- the two phases) through its subsi- ters long. The project was valued at diary CHEC and the latter is also XAF276 billion, or XAF22 billion per managing the container terminal kilometer. of this port, in partnership with This contract strengthens the French Bolloré and CMA-CGM. monopoly of the Chinese conglo- Alexandre VILGRAIN The sugar distribution giant With the Vilgrain’s, agri-business billion in 2018, from XAF53.2 billion in is a family affair. The current boss 2016 and XAF61.3 billion in 2017. No of French group Somdiaa, a family dividends were paid since 2015 and company he joined in 1979 after the company posted a meager profit his law studies, took over from his of XAF97 million in 2018. However, father Jean-Louis in 1995. This is Vilgrain has taken things into his perhaps why Alexandre takes things hands and is determined to put the so seriously, to the extent of adminis- firm back on the right track. After his tering, himself, all the subsidiaries of arrival, Sosucam ended the 2018-2019 this multinational, including Société campaign with a record production of sucrière du Cameroun (Sosucam). 124,500 tons of sugar, up 10%. Also, its Since January 1, 2019, he has been the production during the first quarter of person in charge of supplying 70% 2020 is up by 19.8% compared to the of the sugar consumed in Cameroon same quarter the previous year. (companies and households alike). To raise the business’ performances, When he arrived at the head of Alexandre Vilgrain had to re-motivate Sosucam - a company in which his 4,500 employees by increasing Cameroon’s state holds a 23.8% stake - their wages, among others. He is also was going down a slope. According to implementing a XAF93 billion invest- figures from the Ministry of Finance, ment program. Sosucam’s turnover fell to XAF 48.4

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 57 FOCUS

Alain MALONG The industrialist plunged in the dark

Since 2009, he has been heading was impaired by a sudden power the Compagnie camerounaise cut that fragilized the smelter’s d’aluminium (Cameroon’s alumi- pots. This caused Alucam’s tur- num company - Alucam) as its ma- nover to fall from XAF123 billion naging director. After experiencing the year before to XAF99.2 billion some challenges between 2014 and (in 2018), with a net result of -10.8 2015 following the separation of billion against a profit of 2.2 billion Alucam and its strategic partner, in 2017. Moreover, Cameroon’s raw Rio Tinto Alcan, Alain Malong aluminum output during the year was able to rebalance the firm’s of the power shutdown stood at operating accounts. As a result, 62,581 tons, down by 19.4% com- from a loss of over XAF10 billion pared to 77,600 tons in 2017. In Alucam recorded in 2015 amid the addition to these domestic distur- break-up, the firm posted a profit bances, Malong has to deal with of 2.2 billion in 2017; a true breath a difficult situation at the global of fresh air for the 340 people level. Indeed, tensions between the working for Alucam’s two subsidia- U.S and China amidst the Covid-19 ries, Socatral and Alubassa which pandemic have caused the price of respectively produce roofings and aluminum to fall below $1,500 per cooking utensils. ton, thus representing a drop of However, in 2018, the recovering over 20% y/y.

Du YIN The strategic partner In 15 years of operation in networks, etc.), rural electrifi- Cameroon, Huawei has become cation using photovoltaic solar a key player in the country’s energy, video surveillance, and telecom sector. Thanks to an electronic governance... the areas agreement signed in 2018 with of intervention of the Chinese the Cameroonian authorities, giant are numerous. “Without the telco was recognized as a the participation of Huawei, “strategic partner” in the ICT Cameroon’s ICT sector would segment. And Du Yin, in his still be lagging,” says Judith Yah capacity as managing director of Sunday Achidi, MD of state-ow- Huawei Cameroon, is currently ned telecoms company Camtel. In responsible for implementing this addition to its collaboration with partnership. the government, Huawei controls Technology transfer to more than 70% of the equipment Cameroonian youth, development market in the country, far ahead of of wired transport infrastruc- its competitors ZTE and Ericsson. ture (subsea cables, optical fiber

58 N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 INTERVIEW

Colonel Roger Kuitche “Applying the military strategy to public administrations and private companies”

After having defended the colors of Cameroon on the theater of operations in Bakassi and following his campaigns against Boko Haram (between the 14th of August 2014 and the 17th of February 2016 he served as Commander of the 41st Motorized Infantry Brigade, which was set up to fight the terrorist sect), this retired Senior Officer is leading a new battle : to convince Cameroonian public authorities and private companies to incorporate military strategy into their development approaches. In this regard, he partnered with other retired military officers to launch Best Practice Sarl, a consultancy firm created in 2019. According to Colonel Roger Kuitche, applying military strategy to companies and administrations is the weapon we need in order to curb the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interview with Aboudi Ottou

Business in Cameroun (BC): You crashes, revolutions and pandemics: crises constitute geopolitical turning believe, as many others, that the they all have a potential to overturn points because they either cause new coronavirus crisis challenges the the international balance of powers. shifts or fuel existing ones. global geostrategic balance. How For example, the Europe’s domina- Although the COVID-19 crisis does would you explain that? tion of the world ended after the not amount to a radical overturn of Roger Kuitche (RK): There is a com- World War I, and The USSR became a global geopolitics, the world’s physio- mon feature between world wars, strategic global player after defeating nomy before the pandemic showed natural disasters, stock market Nazy Germany. In other words, major the unending competition between

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superpowers, the outcome of which These shocks question the world as a danger and an opportunity. The was hard to forecast: China and the geostrategic balance and are reflec- current situation is a danger and the USA battling fiercely for the first ted in weakened State structures and opportunity would be our ability to place. countries’ inability to tackle the pan- bring the best out of this period of Just like there is a triggering factor demic efficiently. However, one may uncertainty to make strides. Africa in every battle, COVID-19 brought expect a rapid recovery in the global must leverage this new balance in about a new order. Due to the conta- balance thanks to the restoration of order to measure the success of a few gious and deadly nature of the virus, neoliberalism and the return of the strategic options and draw lessons and the fact that the only prophylaxis Keynesian State. accordingly. Whatever the case, this is the restriction of people’s mobility crisis highlighted the weakness of the and the resulting dramatic decline of BC: How will the world look like international community and the un- the economic activity, the pandemic after Covid-19? sustainability of some models whose has morphed into a pretext for stra- RK: Though still in the making, the existence is definitely irrelevant. tegic and political rivalry between post-Covid-19 world is around the Cameroon could put in place a bold China and America or within the corner. Nothing will ever be the policy to regain leadership and European Union. same. Individual habits will have to heighten its influence in subregio- In this context, China demonstrated change in accordance with health nal organizations. Thanks to the an extraordinary ability to turn a standards. The main impact of the country’s diversified economy, it is failure or a defeat to their advantage crisis would be a profound alienation the least affected State in the CEMAC with stunning ease. Once the epicen- of African societies which are rooted zone. ter of the pandemic, then criticized in the warmth of recurring physical for its propaganda-like epidemiolo- gatherings. BC: What concrete actions should gical statistics and the delay in impo- At the international level, export-re- Africa take in order to leverage sing a lockdown, China’s reponse liant countries may lend a new impe- this situation? to the crisis was finally hailed as a tus to their local production and give RK: This is the right time to make model. The country even developed added value to a range of commo- indepth structural changes, because a face mask diplomacy. In the mean- dities. Such a scenario may deal a right now the world is looking “el- time, the USA is trying the dump the severe blow to importing countries sewhere”. burden of the world by openly criti- and affect the balance of payment, We must seize this opportunity and cizing the UN security bodies, the- should the crisis persist. The world take up the challenge of making the reby giving China an opportunity to will surely witness a new balance next century better than the past one assume the role of the world leader. of powers and only the most daring in terms of standard of living. As the In Europe, the lack of a genuine nations will live up to expectations. saying goes, “woe to he who wastes a solidarity between the Member crisis”. It’s about time we boldly forge States of the European Union does BC: How can the African continent a path for ourselves and refuse to not augur well for the community’s and Cameroon in particular leve- continue to be influenced by others. hierarchy. In Africa, a Pan-African rage this new balance? We must revamp our local produc- health diplomacy emerges, as many RK: “In troubled days, meditate”. tion and provide substitute products countries across the continent These words introduce Raymond to our population. There is no other receive support in the form of medi- Aron’s “Peace and War”. It is worth alternative because sea shipping, cal supplies (Madagascar) and face noting that every crisis is a paradox. which is the bloodstream of globali- masks (Morocco) to takle COVID-19. Chinese sinographs define it both zation, has been disrupted. We must

60 N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 INTERVIEW

«The military is a huge source of potential and they should be the preferred partners of businessmen»

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 61 INTERVIEW

denounce unfair international agree- tegy is the mother of all strategies. mation on the field, on the foes and ments and sign new ones; prohibit Defined as the art of combining the on the friends is vital to update deci- the importation of selected goods power of the mind and the power of sion making processes. In the case of in order to boost local production, actions to make operational choices, the Covid, we definitely failed to un- etc. Addressing these issues requires strategy was born in the army. Accor- derstand the situation and we were audacity on the part of our leaders ding to statistics, nine out of ten almost taken unaware. I say “almost” and the support of all the relevant entrepreneurs fail within their first because the cycle of a crisis starts stakeholders. five years of business. And nine out with ordinary life followed by the of the ten that survive eventually incubation period and warning signs. BC: What is the way forward for fail in their last five years. Therefore, Then come a series of events that private companies? we should be keen to know what the organization failed to plan and, RK: In my opinion, private compa- difference there is between the one when the triggering factor appears, nies must build on the first of Sun successful entrepreneur and the nine the crisis breaks out. These warning Tzu’s 13 Articles in The Art of War: others who fail. This is my answer: signs could have been detected if we “In favorable times, one must be able success in business requires the same were applying strategic intelligence. to change their plans”. Like water core competences, values and abili- In order to achieve flexibility, States running off the soil, private compa- ties that soliders are taught to apply and companies must build on China’s nies must adapt to circumstances on a daily basis in various theaters experience and mainstream the instead of forcing themselves into a of operations. There are similarities millitary strategy at all levels of their predefined strategic plan. They must between an economic war, whose reflexion. Soldiers are sentinels not be innovative because during a crisis, aim is to outperform competitors, only in the purest sense of the term, new opportunies and new trades call and a military battle, where we seek but also to protect economic inte- for fresh choices. But private compa- the annihilation of the opponent: a rests. Their forward-looking spirit nies also need public authorities full similarity in semantics, a similarity can help us to be proactive. Military support. The private sector must no in actions, etc. Military strategy may training provides several skills and a longer be considered as the gover- not be a panacea for private com- military know-how which can benefit nement’s cash cow, but rather as the panies and public administrations, civil entrepreneurs. driving force of economic recovery. but it is a valuable tool to be used by The crisis also offers a timely season pioneering economic bodies. That is BC: When it comes to economic to encourage national champions what big nations do and there is no war, strategic intelligence plays a and enhance resilience. That is the shame in emulating good examples. fundamental role. How can econo- rationale behind the return to the mic war leverage the army’s infor- Keynesian State. BC: Beyond a sound strategy, mili- mation gathering system? tary operations must also fulfill RK: As I said earlier, we should be BC: In what way can the military two major requirements: unders- applying military strategy to the strategy be useful to States and tanding of the situation and adap- development strategies of businesses private companies in this process? tability. Are States and companies and public administrations. Military RK: In the context of an economic not facing the same challenges in officers and economic operators are crisis, the military strategy can be the context of the COVID-19 pan- both in a war and the resemblance very useful to private companies. demic? How can hey achive more of their situation is an evidence that Wars are a source of constant crisis flexibility? they should work hand in glove. The for soldiers and the military stra- RK : Indeed, constantly seeking infor- military know-how in intelligence

62 N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 INTERVIEW

«We must, therefore, refuse to be influenced by taking bold steps to secure a good position for ourselves»

(competitors-ennemies) and in offen- has three functions : civil defence, to be effective, the civil and econo- sives (market-war) can be efficiently military defence and economic mic functions of the defence policy applied to any situation of economic defence. How would you define must be rooted in an excellent mili- war. With their huge potential, mili- economic defence? Would it be tary defence. To avoid silos, which tary officers should be the preferred right to say that your theory sim- make no sense in our context, we partners of businessmen and women ply suggests the development of believe that an indepth analysis of who remain in command. The point that fonction of the defence and the military way of doing things can is not substitute entrepreneurs for security policy? help define and implement business soldiers, but to achieve knowledge RK: Due to the cross-cutting nature strategies for companies engaged in transfer through a thoughtful syner- of defence and security issues, what economic war. gy. is suggest is to stop working in silos and to give preference to defence IC : Do you think that Cameroo- BC: According to many experts, policy which combines security and nian authories are aware that the the defence and security policy development determinants. In order country’s fate is at a crossroads?

N° 89-90 / July-August 2020 63 INTERVIEW

«We must call into question global agreements that are no more favorable»

RK : Good actions seem to have been and take bold steps; and who think the support of our defence and secu- undertaken, but with no strategic fo- out of the box to find solutions. We rity forces. In fact, we currently have cus – that is, not with a specific goal have an opportunity to “think of the everything it take to foster domestic in mind. We must set our goals with unthinkable” and explore innovative production in the textile industry, in the following question in mind: “how ways to emerge victorious from the the metal industry, in ICTs, etc. In my can we make the most out of this crisis. The only way to bring the best opinion, this crisis provides us with crisis”, because we know that every out of this pandemic is to display a unique opportunity to fufill the crisis is an opportunity that should selflessness and boldness in every dream of making Cameroon a newly not be wasted. With such a holistic step we make. Whatever the case, we industrialized economy. We must approach, we need people and minds must not lose this war or we will lag not wait for a hypothetical end of who have a thorough overview of the behind the wars to come. The ideal the pandemic to make the first move situation; who are able to navigate time has come to implement our for “he that observes the wind shall bottlenecks, get rid of the routine Masterplan for industrialization with never sail”… It’s now or never.

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LEADER OF THE MONTH Elizabeth Tchoungui becomes Orange Group’s Executive Director of CSR, Diversity, and Solidarity

French telecoms group Orange recently announced changes in its top management, to bring in new talents to continue the implementation of its strategic plan «Engage2025,» post-Covid-19. Among the changes that have taken place, we note the arrival of the Cameroonian Elizabeth Tchoungui in the management of the group.

This Cameroonian journalist and writer will assume the position of Orange Group’s Executive Director CSR, Diversity and Solidarity as of September 1, 2020, as well as Deputy Chairperson of Orange Foundation. A graduate of the School of Journalism in Lille, France, the US-born was the very first African journalist to host the news on French TV channel TV5 Monde. She was also the first woman to host the cultural program aired on the France 2 TV channel. Prior to joining Orange, she was working for RMC Story, another television channel.

She owes the title of Chevalier des Arts et Lettres of France to a genuine and fervent passion for culture. CSR policy, in the framework of the Elisabeth Medou Bandang. In 2018, Tchoungui even headed for some strategic plan Engage2025, this mul- the latter joined the management time the culture department of titalented figure will surely inspire committee of Orange Middle East France 24. Orange indicated that the herself from her experiences within and Africa as regional Director and journalist has written several books the NGO «Action Against Hunger,” Spokesperson. Prior to that, she including «Je vous souhaite la pluie,» which she leads, but also within the was the very first woman and first (Ed. note: I wish you rain) which has Think Tank «Club XXIème siècle,» Cameroonian to head between 2013 been translated into Italian and is which promotes diversity through and 2018, the local subsidiary of read in secondary schools and uni- excellence and exemplary career Orange group, after a stint as the versities across Cameroon. paths. She also manages the latter. head of Orange Botswana. At Orange, Elizabeth Tchoungui joins BRM To successfully steer Orange Group’s another compatriot and namesake,

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