By NDUMBE BELL J.G in DOUALA
As the nation braces up for the new finance law in 2026, business stakeholders of the nation’s economy at the Chamber of Commerce met the Director General of taxes at the conference hall of their headquarter precincts recently, to concert on issues related to taxes generally, so as to make recommendations to hierarchy, which will contribute in creating a conducive business environment to promote competitivity and the socio-economic development of the nation.
In the presence of the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Hon. Christophe Eken, members of the executive committee of C.C.I.M.A, the related ministerial representatives and others met at the conference hall which was significantly almost full to capacity. The president welcomed the Director General of taxes, Meyong Abath Roger Athanase, for coming along with all his close collaborators and handed him a thick document of proposals, suggestions and recommendations which was the handiwork formulated internally, by the Chamber’s mainstream of experts of sections, and professionals.
The president then added that the Chamber’s package handed over to him contains 20 proposals that will help to improve the business climate, improve the fiscal environment and promote earnings. The document also includes matters related to addressing value added tax (VAT), agriculture and matters related to penalties. In brief, Hon Eken also acknowledged some efforts made by the Director General of taxes in the past in salvaging understanding of finance laws that originated from the Chamber’s suggestions.
Reacting to the welcome address, the Director General of taxes, Meyong Abath Roger Athanase said he came as the representative to share ideas, experiences and guidelines in consultations with business actors and members of the Chamber of Commerce.
So, he came for the modernisation of our fiscal systems and our consolidation of the finance laws. Equally, he took time to pour accolades on the reappointment of the president of the Chamber of Commerce in his fifth consecutive term at the head of this noble institution. He praised his illustrious wisdom, vision and dynamism and wished him well in the coming years. The Director General of taxes said that, the manner in which hierarchy designed this coming tax laws is to promote business endeavours or investments and the consolidation of the business laws and is also made to guarantee that taxes from within comes to be a principal source for realising national development among others.
Businessmen and women democratically raised their objections and made suggestions in favour of the sectors that were operational including how to combat fiscal fraud for which the tax expert said they have embraced digitisation to combat that worm.
Sir Dr. Nico Halle who is one of those advocating for change in the mindset to combat corruption in public and private institutions, continued that “We can have very good intentions as we are listening and sharing now, we have a very attractive investment code, we have a well-structured law like OHADA regional laws, collect these taxes but the social amenities like roads, electricity, water, schools are lacking.” So, Sir. Dr. Nico Halle appealed to the Director General to channel this message that “if corruption is not being fought effectively and the mindset against corruption changed, we are going nowhere.”
After a video presentation of the CCIMA document, the Director General of taxes, in an interview said 40 percent of the recommendations were to be channeled to the Minister of finance. He defended why other taxes are not likely to go out.
Talking to the president of the Chamber of Commerce during a news briefing, he said they were happy to know that of the many proposals or recommendations that are found in the chamber’s document, the Director General is in agreement with up to 40 percent. So, they are happy about that. They are represented in the ten regions of the country and they know most business actors are in the small and medium sized range. This group is now known to be having problems in having access to electronic channeling or the digitisation process so, the Chamber requested that something be done about that and they are in agreement with the Director General of taxes in this matter as well.