By Doh James Sonkey
The Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze has said government will continuously accord priorities to economic, social and cultural development in the country in 2024.
Minister Louis Paul Motaze made the declaration in Maroua, Far North Region last January 16, 2024 as he launched the 2024 State budget.
Addressing stakeholders in the budget chain and other national actors, the Finance boss indicated that, “the population remains at the centre of the actions of public authorities. Improving the living condition of the population through boosting energy and water supply, livestock production, constructing more roads, improving the business climate and rebuilding the crises-hit North West, South West and Far North regions, he said, are among government priorities.”
He said government will pay special attention to the amelioration of competitiveness and productivity in the economy, fight against inflation, the preservation of the common man in the society against high cost of living, cleaning of the urban areas, the reinforcement of the hygienic sanity situation in public places and taking care of vulnerable persons in the society.
The Minister told stakeholders that, the execution of the budget is in a context of recovery especially in the Far North Regions wherein Boko Haram activities have been greatly reduced.
Beyond that, the Minister said in a post-COVID-19 period and recent agreements with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, among others there is hope for growth.
The budget, he also said, seeks to discourage importation and a drive the consumption of locally made products.
Minister Motaze said “This is to further strengthen the Import-Substitution policy of the Head of State so as to achieve growth. Government in 2024 is working to tackle the rising cost of living and make life comfortable even for the most vulnerable in society. If economic activities must be revived on a national scale, competitiveness, must be stepped up, inflation reduced, most vulnerable sectors of the population taken care of, among other measures.”
He talked of the intensification of activities to revive the economy of the country for the good of all. The minister lauded the efforts of regional and local administrators as well as mayors to ensure the population benefits from government policies.
The Cameroon Finance boss concluded that the success of the various actions will give equal opportunity to our economy to reinforce its self sufficiency and to re-launch the internal market. The 2024 State Budget launching ceremony equally gave certain actors of the national economy sector to present some exposes relating to the budget.