BY NDUMBE BELL GASTON IN DOUALA
Douala City’s friend from Bordeaux City who came to announce their intentions to promote the entrepreneurial skills of another pair of young Cameroonian laureats, joined officials of the Chamber of Commerce at their headquarters in a precipitated press conference organized by both parties in Douala.
Unravelling details at the press conference, the criteria or the modalities of choosing the laureats who are to join others from Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Benin as was in 2018, will not change. Training of the laureats or young entrepreneurs who must come from the age bracket of 20-40 years and must have been very active as young economic operators in the transformation of primary agricultural products or agro-industry, digital technology, consultancy in communications and management, domestic products, public works and renewable industries, is earmarked to begin from June 2 to June 15.
The Chamber of Commerce will have to assure applicants’ outfits must have lasted from one year to five years including the key accompanying documents like taxpayers card, among others, Registration for selection is now and the date line is on March 26.
Under the wider Bordeaux-Africa projects, the young entrepreneurs have been programmed to undergo intensive practical business lectures in renowned institutions, they say, like Kedge and Mazar, by highly reputed business lecturers and senior economic operators. In addition, during their stay in Bordeaux they will have to attend workshops, seminars and colloquia, visit greater Paris where they will be privileged to be invited in the French senate, meet employers and other interesting centers including youth centers in the City of Bordeaux.
Answering to questions from friends of the media the head of Delegation and Assistant Mayor of Bordeaux Pierre de Gaetan Njikam a Cameroonian who spear heads this project, said the project was sponsored by a small percentage of Bordeaux City taxpayers budget.The project, he continued, is broadly aimed at upgrading skills to get the young to become more competitive not only at the Cameroonian environment but beyond the continental landcape to that of the global playground after having experienced the human touch during sessions by mentors with enormous success stories. The Bordeaux delegation grooms them in such a way that they must create personal business partnerships and business networks, which is important to compete and improve quality and standards at the international, domestic or continental level,
The Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce Halidou Bello, who represented the President Hon. Christopher Eken, told those present that benefits of this exercise are enormous. He furthered that for the 15 laureats who have already benefitted from the last three editions, the balance sheet has been very impressive in the way they manage their projects. Then, he went on to say that the Chamber of Commerce is accomplishing their objectives to promote entrepreneurship in the nation by collaborating with those who want to join them and this what the Bordeaux mission is out for. Mr Dimala was called upon to explain that the Chamber had to recommend a laureat who went to Japan and came back with flying colours. Mr Gaetan who was accompanied by close collaborators including the president of young entrepreneurs disclosed that this is not the only project. He added that they came to sign a convention with Douala City port. In the past they have been involved in projects like DoualaWouri Project, heath, and just three months or so ago in the “Douala sans voiture” project.