By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The government of Cameroon has signed two strategic conventions with France with focus on budget support and financing the National Museum. The two conventions were signed last July 26, 2019 at the conference hall of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development by Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey for Cameroon and by French Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Gilles Thibault at a solemn ceremony witnessed by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Celestine Ketcha Courtes, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Pierre Ismail Bidoung Mkpatt, the Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Paul Tasong etc.
In his speech, the French Ambassador to Cameroon reassured Cameroon of their permanent support in the country’s strategic development sectors.
Expressing government’s gratitude to France for standing with Cameroon as well as to other countries of the sub region facing economic and financial difficulties, Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey explained that “today we had the privilege of signing two important conventions. The first one concerns 2017-2019 budget support in line with commitments taken by our long time partner France and the riposte which the sub region decided to implement in 2016 when Heads of State at their summit convened by the President of the Republic of Cameroon. Five pillars were identified as key ones to address the situation consisting of fiscal consolidation, Cameroon’s external policy, reinforcing international cooperation, strengthening and deepening integration and lastly, diversification of our economy. Within this package of measures, France has pledged to support over three years up to FCFA 200 billion. We had the first and second phases in 2017 and 2018. Today we signed the 3rd and last phase worth FCFA 65, 6 billion.”
He continued that “The second convention is about financing the National Museum and this is done through the mechanism of the French Debt Relief Programme dubbed C2D, an innovative approach that has been implemented in Cameroon for the first time ever to support the development of our nation. The National Museum is one of our strategic areas in the development of our economy. FCFA 656 million will help not only to rehabilitate it but also to protect the environment and those assets that we have and implement policies which will lead to the promotion of Arts and Culture in the country.”