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BUSINESS IN
MAJOR PROJECTS
AGRICULTURE
ENERGY
CAMEROON
MINING
February 2016 •N° 36
INDUSTRY
SERVICES
FINANCE
Focus on 2016 & 2019 AfCON
sports infrastructure
Bocom group 300 MW of solar power
announces in the near future, thanks
steel production to Arborescence Capital
complex in Fifinda and Générale du Solaire
BUSINESS
IN
Daily
business
CAMEROON
news from
Cameroon
.COM
IPHONE, IPAD, AMAZON, AND ANDROID APPLICATIONS
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
Yasmine Bahri-Domon
2016, year of growth and hope
While the economic indicators of several coun- valued at FCfa 656 billion has already interested
tries are in the red, Cameroon can boast of EDF (Electricité de France), in addition to the
continuing to ensure and assume its good eco- International Finance Corporation (IFC) and
nomic performance through controlled inflation Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA).
at 3% and growth which moved from 4.8% in
2015 to 6% scheduled for 2016. This represents This first edition of the magazine Business in
an increase of 1.2% in only 12 months... Let Cameroon in 2016 has several columns on the
us be honest, few countries have achieved such sports infrastructure dedicated to the Africa
good economic results, as certified by Christine Cup of Nations being organised this year and in
Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF (Inter- the coming three years by Cameroon. French,
national Monetary Fund) whose recent work Italian and Chinese investors are grabbing the
visit in Yaoundé and Douala, from 7 to 9 January contracts, together with Cameroonian economic
2016, is an acknowledgment of the economic ef- operators. In the meantime, Moroccan compa-
fort made by Cameroon. Is it utopian to think nies are warming up, getting ready to move into
that Cameroon is doing well and will do even the tactical game of infrastructure....
better in 2016?
Overall, these developmental projects are part
The answer to this question is in the effective im- of the DSCE plan, considered as the framework
plementation of developmental projects. We can guiding the economic choices of Cameroon in
list some of them: the deep water port of Kri- Major Achievements, of which youth employ-
bi with 92% of the structural work completed. ment remains a critical issue. Starting from 2016,
82% of the works on the hydro-electric dams the national action plan for youth employment
at Lom Pangar have been completed. Starting which is equivalent to FCfa 135 billion in invest-
from March 2016, this reservoir-dam will start ments, should generate 380,000 jobs by 2020... As
stocking a volume of 3 billion cubic metres of can be seen, the CEMAC engine is on the path to
water to enable, in the end, control of 40% of emergence. The country owes its salvation to the
the flow of the Sanaga river bed in order to in- multiple reforms which led to the diversification
crease electrical power production by an aver- of the sources of its tax and customs revenues.
age of 80 to 100 MW. 70% of the works on the The current challenge is to increase agricultural
Mekin dam have been completed and the pro- production, mechanise it, increase growth, im-
ject should be delivered in May 2016. At the be- prove the business environment, diversify part-
ginning of February 2016, 70% of the work on nerships and provide a better welcome to foreign
the Menve’ele dam have been completed, with investors.
a delivery scheduled for 2017. Other dams have This new year is an essential turning point to-
been planned, with the most pressing one on the ward economic growth and the emergence of
Nachtigal falls, which should generate 420 meg- Cameroon by 2035.
awatts of electricity and provide an additional
300,000 m3 of potable water/day to meet the Happy New Year 2016!
city of Yaoundé’s water requirement. This dam
February 2016 / N° 36 -3-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
CONTENTS
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
Publisher
Stratline Limited
084Christine Lagarde urges
Publication Director
Yasmine BAHRI-DOMON
Cameroon to multiply
its investments in
Contributors infrastructure
Beaugas-Orain DJOYUM, Ayissi LE BEAU,
Mamadou CISSÉ, Muriel EDJO,
Brice R. MBODIAM. 094“CEMAC must stop
discretionary tax
Operator
Médiamania Sàrl exemptions”
www.mediamania.pro
Design : Jérémie FLAUX, 104AfCON 2016 and 2019:
Web : Christian ZANARDI,
Translation : Schadrac AKINOCHO,
the roundup of sports
Bérénice BAH infrastructure
Advertisement 1142016 Africa Women
regiepub@investiraucameroun.com
In Cameroon Cup of Nations: victory 124Over FCfa 8 billion in
Albert MASSIMB of national bias on contracts to rehabilitate
almassimb@yahoo.fr
Tel : 00 237 94 66 94 59
associated infrastructure two hotels as part of the
00 237 77 75 13 98 2016 AfCON
114Equipment: more than
Printing FCfa 10 billion picked 134Italian Piccini gets
Rotimpres, Aiguaviva, Espagne
up by French, Italian a contract of FCfa
Circulation and above all Chinese 163 billion for the
Albert MASSIMB
almassimb@yahoo.fr companies construction of a 60,000
Tel : 00 237 94 66 94 59 ou seats stadium in Yaoundé
00 237 77 75 13 98 124Louis Berger to monitor
Free – cannot be sold works at the military 344Billionaire Nana Bouba
stadium and adjoining carries out reshuffling
www.businessincameroon.com
info@businessincameroon.com Omnisport stadium within his empire
-4- February 2016 / N° 36
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON PUBLIC MANAGEMENT P 1416 AGRIBUSINESS P 1719 FINANCE P 2022 ICT P 2325 ENERGY P 2628 TRANSPORTATION P 29 INDUSTRY P 3032 MINING P 33 February 2016 / N° 36 -5-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
THE CAST
KATE FOTSO
Telcar Cocoa, a local trading compa-
ny, subsidiary of the international firm
Cargill, increased its capital, from FCfa
300 million to FCfa 1.4 billion, we
learned in a legal notice published on
22 December 2015. Though the mech-
anism used for this capital increase was
not revealed, the operation would enable Telcar Cocoa to
solidify its leadership in terms of export of Cameroonian
cocoa and promotion of certified cocoa production in the
country.
Telcar Cocoa is managed by Kate Fotso, who was the star
of the last International Festival of Cameroonian Cocoa
(Festicacao), organised from 3 to 5 December 2015 in
Yaoundé, and which theme was “the Cameroonian woman
in the cocoa sector”, a way of honouring women who excel in
this sector dominated by men.
PAULE AVOMO
ASSOUMOU
On 30 December 2015, a brief Board
meeting of about 15 minutes, put an
end to the tenure of more than 5 years
of Pierre Tankam as Head of the
Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority
(CCAA). He was immediately re-
placed by Paule Avomo Assoumou,
a general Civil Aviation engineer of 49 years, who was
until then Director of Aviation Security within the same
authority.
From converging and reliable sources, Pierre Tankam’s
dismissal follows his continued refusal to issue certificates
for two Chinese MA 60 aircraft purchased by the State of
Cameroon for Camair Co, the public airline. These planes
were officially received by the Cameroonian State on 1
April 2015.
-6- February 2016 / N° 36
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
CHUKS UGHA EDWIN FONGOD
NUVAGA
Since 1 December 2015, the new Man- Since 21 December 2015, the man-
aging Director of Standard Chartered aging director of the Cameroonian
Bank Cameroun is Chuks Ugha, whose Customs is Edwin Fongod Nuvaga.
choice was validated by the regulatory Following a presidential decree signed
authorities of the banking sector of the on the same day, he replaces at this
CEMAC area, we learned in an official strategic position Mrs Linette Libom
communiqué published on 24 Decem- Li Likeng, promoted Minister of Posts
ber 2015 by this credit establishment. and Telecoms on 2 October 2015. Edwin Fongod knows
Chuks Ugha, who has over 24 years of experience in the this structure well. Before his promotion, this customs in-
banking industry replaces Cameroonian Mathieu Mandeng, spector was already Head of the IT Division at the Cus-
transferred to the Head Office of the Mauritian subsidiary toms Head Office.
of Standard Chartered Bank. The new MD knows well the Well into his fifties, Edwin Fongod is presented as a
institution he now leads. Indeed, before his promotion as first cousin of the current Cameroonian Prime Minister,
MD, Chuks Ugha was Corporate and Institutional Clients Philémon Yang. The newly promoted MD will have to
Manager at Standard Chartered Bank Cameroun. meet the challenge of keeping the trend of constantly in-
creasing customs revenues as noted since the appointment
to this office of his predecessor.
DIEUDONNÉ MASSI ALPHONSE NAFACK
GAMS
The National Anti-Corruption Com- Alphonse Nafack, Managing Director of
mission of Cameroon (Conac in Afriland First Bank, is the new President
French) just released its activities re- of the Professional Association of Cred-
port for 2013. According to Dieu- it Establishments of Cameroon (Apec-
donné Massi Gams, the man chairing cam), we learned in an official commu-
this institution in charge of battling niqué signed by the General Secretary of
corruption in the country, “2013 saw this association, Benedict Belibi.
the evolution and sophistication of corruption techniques”, he He officially assumed office on 1 December 2015, the
declared. communiqué specified. The Afriland MD thus succeeds to
No sector was spared, the President of Conac stressed. Be- Mathieu Mandeng, ex-MD of Standard Chartered Bank
fore listing in no particular order corruption acts which Cameroun, recently appointed to Mauritius, who had been
have plagued the economic activity in the country this year: elected as head of Apeccam for the first time in June 2012.
the production of fake payslips, paying for the issuance of During his term, Alphonse Nafack will be assisted by Jean
payslips, government workers overstating salaries and pen- Paul Missi, MD of Crédit Foncier du Cameroun, the hous-
sions, the issuance of fake driving licences, overbilling ser- ing bank; and Eric Leclerc, MD of Alios Finances, respec-
vices, etc. tively 1st and 2nd Vice-President of Apeccam.
February 2016 / N° 36 -7-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON FOCUS Christine Lagarde urges Cameroon to multiply its investments in infrastructure Visiting Cameroon from 7 to whose implementation will con- an economic growth of almost 6% 9 January 2016, the Managing tribute most to economic growth over the past 2 years”, thanks in Director of the IMF, Christine and job creation, while avoiding part to “a good resilience against Lagarde, urged the Cameroonian debt increasing too quickly”, she this double shock (oil prices and government to multiply invest- advised. Boko Haram, Ed.), also under the ments in infrastructure. “It is ex- effect of an important increase in tremely important to put in place However, if the MD of the IMF oil production and a new increase policies to better resist shocks and acknowledges that the country in public investment”; Christine favour infrastructure spending, “is posting very good results, with Lagarde denounced “structural -8- February 2016 / N° 36
FOCUS BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
competitiveness problems” noted
in the country. “CEMAC must stop
These include, she specified, “a
business environment not conducive
to private investment and the ab-
discretionary tax
exemptions”
sence of progress in terms of regional
integration”, which “could continue
to hinder the development of the
private sector, leading to a middle
term growth rate of about 5% only”. clearance on exports and 50 days
for imports.
After the meeting and the State After this roundtable, Mrs Lagarde
dinner organised in her honour had a meeting with the governor
by the Cameroonian presidential of the BEAC. Her visit ended on
couple on 7 January, the MD of the 9 January 2016 with a press con-
IMF continued her Cameroon visit ference.
the following day with a roundta- As a reminder, the IMF boss was
ble with the Ministers of Finance in Nigeria on 4 January, a country
and Economy of the CEMAC area, Christine where she also started her official
Lagarde
a meeting with the BEAC gover- advised visit on the continent. The Nige-
nor, and a press conference. On CEMAC to For the Managing Director of the rian stopover provided Christine
9 January, before leaving Came- strengthen International Monetary Fund, dis- Lagarde with the opportunity to
its sub-
roon, Christine Lagarde met with regional cretionary tax exemptions applied
economic operators and members integration within the area (CEMAC) affect
of the Cameroonian civil society
in Douala, the economic capital of
and im-
prove the
business
the global revenues of the States
and weaken governance. Internal
Within the
the country. climate. fundraising must also take into
account important questions on
CEMAC,
international tax laws which have
an effect on tax revenues linked to
companies
mining industries.
“These considerations could be par-
must spend
ticularly relevant for countries rich
in natural resources, as is the case
on average
for some countries of the CEMAC
zone, in order to avoid the erosion
572 hours to
of the tax base and transfer of prof-
its”, she recalled, clarifying that the
take care of their
sub-region must continue to raise
non-oil funds and bring them to
tax obligations,
the level of community criteria of
17% as against 13% currently.
against 304
Finally she advised CEMAC to
strengthen its sub-regional in-
hours in other
tegration and improve the busi-
ness climate. In the Doing Busi-
African countries.
ness ranking issued by the World
Bank which assesses reforms on strengthen the partnership link-
in-country business environment, ing her institution to the largest
it appears that, within the Com- African economy. In Abuja, like in
munity, companies must spend on Cameroon, she met the Head of
average 572 hours to take care of State, Muhammadu Buhari, but
their tax obligations, against 304 also parliamentarians, business
hours in other African countries. heads, women leaders and repre-
Also, it takes 40 days for customs sentatives of the civil society.
February 2016 / N° 36 -9-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON AFCON 2016
AfCON 2016 and 2019:
the roundup of sports
infrastructure
Since 1972, the year when Came-
roon organised the Africa Cup of
Nations (AfCON) for the first and
last time, a football competition
that the country has already won
four times, no major stadium has
been constructed in the country.
The stadiums Ahmadou Ahidjo
of Yaoundé and Reunification of
Douala have only survived since
that period with repairs often fol-
lowing threats of suspension from
the highest football body FIFA,
whose experts have several times
criticised the poor condition of the
above-mentioned sports infrastruc-
ture.
One had to wait till the beginning
of 2010 to see the Cameroonian
government tackle the question of
sports infrastructure, with the es-
tablishment of the Programme to If in Yaoundé, rehabilitation of ex- from the date, there is already a fuss
develop sports infrastructure (PN- isting stadiums has been favoured, about the sites chosen for the con-
DIS). This programme aims to con- in Limbé, a brand new stadium struction of two major stadiums in
struct football stadiums in the 10 has already been built. At the same Yaoundé and Douala, the country’s
regions of the country. time, the town of Buéa, regional two capitals. At Bafoussam, in the
capital of the South-West located Western region the new stadium is
It is certainly to fulfil this ambition at a stone’s throw from Limbé, ben- already completed.
that Cameroon bid for the organi- efits from a complete makeover of
sation of the 2016 Africa Women certain accommodation facilities, The only unknown at this time is
Cup of Nations and 2019 AfCON. for the 2016 Africa Women Cup of the state of progress of the Garoua
Nine months away from the wom- Nations which should have a tourist stadium construction project, in
en’s competition that the country impact. the Northern part of Cameroon, so
will host from November 2016 in that the greatest football competi-
the cities of Yaoundé and Limbé, But, the biggest investment is re- tion on the African continent has a
the map of sports infrastructure is served for the organisation of the truly national aspect.
looking rather good. AfCON competition that the coun-
try will host in 2019. Three years Brice R. Mbodiam
-10- February 2016 / N° 36AFCON 2016 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations: victory of
national bias on associated infrastructure
Central region and Limbé, in the
South-West region.
Analysing the official government
communiqué awarding these con-
tracts, the Cameroonian civil engi-
neering companies won the lion’s
share in the first procurement, with
more than FCfa 17 billion under
their umbrella, being about 70%
of the total envelope of contracts
awarded by the government.
In detail, Cameroonian companies
MAG Sarl, Buns and the Group
Croisière BTP-Roud’Af, will build
the access and bypass roads of
the Limbé multi-purpose sports
stadium (South-West region), re-
The Cameroonian government is in the run-up to the organisa- spectively for FCfa 3.8 billion, a
awarded, in October 2015, con- tion, from the month of November little more than 7.6 billion and 5.4
tracts totalling a little more than 2016, of the Africa Women Cup billion, the Ministry of Public Pro-
FCfa 24 billion to rehabilitate and of Nations, which will be played curement announced in an official
develop sports infrastructure. This in the towns of Yaoundé, in the communiqué.
Equipment: more than FCfa 10 billion picked
up by French, Italian and above all Chinese
companies
Aside from the construction of the Cameroonian service company The training grounds which adjoin
access and bypass roads, the Cam- with which it has formed a consor- the famous stadium of the Cam-
eroonian government has also tium, the Italian company by name eroonian capital will also be re-
awarded contracts for a little over of Impressa Sartori, won a contract habilitated for a total sum of FCfa
FCfa 10 billion, to provide equip- of more than FCfa 548 million for 3.2 billion. This contract has been
ment and rehabilitate the football the work to equip the multi-pur- awarded to the Chinese company
pitches in the stadiums which will pose Limbé stadium. Sinohydro.
host the Africa Women Cup of Na- The rest of the contracts for equip- The contract for the fittings of the
tions in 2016. ment have been picked up by Chi- stands in the stadium adjoining
In the multi-purpose Ahmadou nese companies for more than Limbé in the South-West, was at-
Ahidjo stadium of Yaoundé, the FCfa 7 billion. For example, China tributed to the Chinese company
capital, the French company Alcor Shanxi Construction Engineering, Tianyuan Construction, we learn
Equipements, specialists in modu- the company to which the Cam- officially. The delivery will total a
lar and movable stands, will equip eroonian government awarded a sum of FCfa 1.7 billion. All these
for example the terraces with seat- contract of FCfa 1.2 billion to re- contracts should be carried out
ing, for a total amount of FCfa 3.07 habilitate the pitch and the athletics within a period of 8 months, ac-
billion. track at the Omnisports stadium cording to a government timeline.
At the same time, together with Ahmadou Ahidjo of Yaoundé.
February 2016 / N° 36 -11-BUSINESS IN CAMEROON AFCON 2016 Louis Berger to monitor works at the military stadium and adjoining Omnisport stadium French company Louis Berger an- nounced in a communiqué pub- lished on 26 October 2015 that it “would monitor the modernisa- tion project of several stadiums in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital”, which will host the Africa Women Cup of Nations and the Africa Cup of Nations, respectively in 2016 and 2019. “We are honoured to contrib- ute in providing the infrastructure needs of two of the most prestigious sports events in Africa”, Jacques Blanc, Deputy Managing Director of Louis Berger in Africa, declared. Two football stadiums of the cap- ital are concerned by this project. These are one of the adjoining sta- diums of the Omnisports stadium of Yaoundé, which will be fitted out as training grounds of 1,000 seats, as well as the military sta- “As part of the first phase of the coming days, and Louis Berger will dium of the capital, which will be contract, Louis Berger prepared ar- ensure the control and monitoring”. fitted with 2,000 seats. According chitectural and technical studies for to Louis Berger, the modernisa- this modernisation. The Cameroo- Specialists in engineering, architec- tion of these two sports structures nian Ministry of Sports and Physi- ture, environmental studies, project which “will comply with the norms cal Education has already approved management, etc., Louis Berger has of African Football Federation (CAF the results of these studies for six of been present in Africa for over 50 in French) and the International the eight specific aims of the project. years and has over 25 years of expe- Federation of Football Association Calls for interest for the works have rience in Cameroon. This company (FIFA), will also include fitting out been launched based on consultation is currently working on ten projects pitches as well new grandstands and records drafted by Louis Berger; the in the country, and has successfully new locker rooms and bathroom works will start (they have actually managed more than 25 other pro- stalls”. started some weeks ago, Ed.) in the jects. Over FCfa 8 billion in contracts to rehabilitate two hotels as part of the 2016 AfCON Over FCfa 8 billion. This is the to- by Cameroon from 19 November to The works should last 7 months. tal cost of the three contracts that 3 December 2016. The Cameroonian group Somaf, for the Cameroonian government has The main recipient of these con- its part, won a contract of FCfa 2.5 just awarded, for the rehabilitation tracts is Cameroonian Gresceram billion, for the rehabilitation and of Mountain Hotel and Parliamen- International, who won two con- expansion of the Parliamentarian tarian Flats Hotel. These two hotels, tracts of a total amount of FCfa 5.6 Flats Hotel in the same city. Dura- we learned, will accommodate the billion for the rehabilitation of the tion of work: 8 months. teams taking part in the 2016 Africa Buéa Mountain Hotel, in a group Women Cop of Nations organised with two other local companies. -12- February 2016 / N° 36
AFCON 2016 BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
Italian Piccini gets a contract
of FCfa 163 billion for the
construction of a 60,000 seats
stadium in Yaoundé
moment difficult to know to which
company has been awarded the con-
tract for the construction of this
infrastructure which will host the
matches of the 2019 AfCON, one
can however remember that during
a site visit in October 2015, leaders
of the committee and from the Min-
istry of Land Affairs were accompa-
nied by Chinese entrepreneurs.
In Bafoussam, in the Western re-
gion, a brand new stadium has al-
ready been built in Kouékong, a
city bordering the Mifi and Noun
departments. According to initial
According to the Ministry of be used for the construction of the forecasts, this infrastructure should
Sports, Bidoung Npwatt, the gov- biggest sports infrastructure ever have been delivered in October
ernment also made strides on the built in the country since 1972, year 2015, but will be finally received in
choice of the contractor of the new of the construction of the Yaoundé early 2016, we learned from reliable
Douala stadium, in the suburbs of and Douala stadiums for the organ-
the economic capital. isation of the AfCON that year, we
The Olembe football stadium, in
can assume that the funding is not
provided by China.
To the general surprise,
the suburbs of the Cameroonian
capital, will be built by Italian Pic-
The recipient of the contract for the
construction of this open stadium
the biggest contract
cini, for a total amount of FCfa 163
billion, the Cameroonian Minis-
of a capacity of 60,000 seats, and
which will certainly be inaugurated of the 2016 and 2019
ter of Public Procurement, Abba
Sadou, revealed on 15 December
on the eve of the 2019 AfCON; is
a company totally unknown in the AfCON did not go to a
2015. It was during the 5th session
of the National Committee for the
country. The Italian group Puccini
however claims the global leader- Chinese company.
preparation of the 2016 and 2019 ship “in the construction of civil en-
African Cup of Nations, which gineering works”.
Cameroon will organise. In the corridors of the Nation- sources. With a capacity of 20,000
To the general surprise, the big- al Committee for the preparation seats, the Kouékong open stadium
gest contract of the 2016 and 2019 to the Africa Cups of Nations, the was built by a Chinese company,
AfCON did not go to a Chinese contract for the construction of a thanks to a loan from the Chinese
company. Though the Camerooni- new stadium in Japoma, in the sub- government of over FCfa 9 billion.
an government did not reveal the urb of the economic capital, is also
origin of the funding which will announced as sealed. If it is for the BRM
February 2016 / N° 36 -13-BUSINESS IN CAMEROON PUBLIC MANAGEMENT 400,000 new jobs announced in Cameroon during 2016 According to forecasts from the Min- however note that the figure given by Nevertheless, the managers in this istry of Employment and Professional President Biya is lower than the 350,000 Ministry themselves confess that the Training, 400,000 new jobs will be creat- jobs announced at the beginning of the employment figures in Cameroon are ed throughout Cameroon during 2016, year by the Ministry of Employment somewhat skewed, we learn, because roughly 70,000 more than the previous and Professional Training. of factors such as “the insufficiency of year, we officially learned. According to this Ministry, this tar- financial resources for the collection of in- Indeed, in its address to the Nation on get was not reached, partly, because of formation on employment, the reluctance 31 December 2015, the Cameroonian the late implementation of the 2015- of some companies in providing regular Head of State, Paul Biya, announced 2017 government’s 3-year emergency information on employed or recruited la- that 337,660 jobs have been created in plan, based on which the Ministry of bour and to preparing workforce planning the country, according to the data com- Employment has forecast the creation and management programmes”. piled as at end November 2015. One can of 35,000 jobs. Hike in airfares departing from Cameroon since 1st January 2016 Since the beginning of 2016, prices for do- mestic as well as international flights have been increasing. This follows a decree from the Prime Minister signed in October 2015, which institutes “some aviation licence fees in Cameroon” to be collected starting from 1st January 2016. This government text increases the “passen- ger fee” for air transport collected by airlines, from FCfa 35,500 to 50,320, an increase of approximately FCfa 15,000 for passengers travelling outside the CEMAC area. For journeys from Cameroon to other countries in the CEMAC area, the increase of this fee, and therefore in air ticket prices, is FCfa 8,220, against FCfa 685 for domestic routes. This licence fee increase on passengers, which impacts on airfares, comes with a new distribution list for the revenues thus collected, with the focal point being the in- crease in operational revenues for the Cam- eroon Airports (Aéroports du Cameroun - ADC in French), so that this public com- pany would have more means to modernise the airport infrastructure in the country. -14- February 2016 / N° 36
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON WB to support launch of Sonatrel, with FCfa 660 billion The World Bank will support Came- roon in the establishment of the Société Nationale de Transport d’Electricité (Sonatrel – National Electricity Trans- port Company) created on 8 October 2015 by a presidential decree, Louis Paul Motazé (photo), Minister of Economy, revealed. It was on 18 January 2016 in Yaoundé, during a press lunch organ- ised by the Association of Economic Journalists of Cameroon (Presse Eco). According to Minister Motazé, during a recent meeting with the World Bank’s Operations Director for Cameroon, An- gola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe, Belgian Elisabeth Huybens reassured the government on the availability of USD 1.2 billion (FCfa in the decree creating this company, corresponding funding; etc.” 660 billion at the exchange rate of FCfa Sonatrel will be responsible for “the op- The establishment of this new entity 550 for USD 1), in order to finance the eration, maintenance and development of is in compliance with Article 23 of the establishment and roll out of the activi- the public electric energy transport net- 14 December 2011 Act, governing the ties of Sonatrel. work and its interconnections with other electricity sector in Cameroon; with the Within the electricity sector in Cam- networks; the management of the electric article establishing “a public capital com- eroon, Sonatrel, a company whol- energy flows transiting through the public pany, managing the electricity transport ly-owned by the State, will be in charge transport network; planning, undertaking network”. This activity could however be of “transporting the electricity and man- studies and managing projects on infra- delegated “in a specified area” to a pri- aging the electricity transport network, on structure and electricity transport facili- vate operator, according to Article 21 of behalf of the State”. In detail, we learned ties, as well as sourcing and managing the the same act. The end of the first phase in the Sonara expansion works announced for 2016 The Cameroonian government is to 3.5 million tons. planning to complete the first phase We can recall that to finance these works of the expansion and modernisation of which a main component is the pur- works of the Société Nationale de Raf- chase of a hydrocracker (which will be finage (Sonara – National Refinery used to refine the oil produced locally, Company) in 2016, thereby leading to Ed.), especially in the second phase, the the increase in production of the only Cameroonian government had request- refinery of the country, we learned ed the support of local banks, including from reliable sources. Afriland First Bank, who took part in Though the volume of this 2016 pro- the financing of phase 1. duction increase has not been revealed, Then, the local subsidiary of BGFI was our sources however indicate that recruited by the Cameroonian State in after the completion of both phases 2013 as financial consultant to help So- of the expansion and modernisation nara get out of a very bad financial sit- works for Sonara, the yearly produc- uation at a time when it rather needed for example, in February 2015, a bridge tion of this refinery should increase by funding. The leader of a consortium of financing of FCfa 143.5 billion for So- 1.4 million tons, thus moving from 2.1 four local banks, BGFI Cameroon got nara. February 2016 / N° 36 -15-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
The government and importers agree not to
increase the price of rice on the Cameroonian
market
During a consultation meeting organ- An agreement which reassures consum- Rice is one of the food staples in Cam-
ised on 13 January 2016 in Yaoundé, the ers, who feared an increase in the price eroon. But the country barely produces
Cameroonian capital, the Minister of per kilogram of rice on the local market, 100,000 tons, for a national demand of
Trade and operators of the rice sector from the moment the 2016 Finance bill sometimes 300,000 tons per year. The
agreed not to pass on the rice import comes into effect, in which the 5% tax gap is therefore filled in by massive im-
tax reinstated in Cameroon, on the fi- on imported rice is reinstated, 8 years ports, which officially cost about a hun-
nal selling price of this foodstuff in the after its removal following the riots of dred billion of FCfa per year.
Cameroonian market. end February 2008.
AFD will give FCfa 45.8 The Cameroonian army
billion for Batschenga- frees approximately
Ntui road and bridge 900 Boko Haram
over Sanaga hostages with the help
of the multinational
Force
The French Development Agency (AFD in French) will fi-
nance, with FCfa 45.8 billion, the project to construct the road
linking Batschenga and Ntui, located in the Central region of
Cameroon. This funding will also be used to build a bridge
over the Sanaga River which crosses both towns.
This is what a presidential decree published on 12 January According to the government of Cameroon, the army has just
2016 revealed, authorising the Cameroonian Minister of rescued 900 people taken hostage by the Nigerian Islamist
Economy, Louis Paul Motazé, to sign the corresponding credit sect Boko Haram. Many firearms and ammunitions were also
convention with AFD, on behalf of the Cameroonian State. seized from the members of this sect, of whom about one hun-
As a reminder, the stretch of road concerned by the funding is dred were neutralised, we learnt.
part of a global paving project to pave 598 km of road between This is the summary of this vast search and sweep operation
the central region of Cameroon (Batschenga-Yoko-Ntui-Le- in the Extrême-Nord region and along the Cameroon-Nigeria
na) and Adamaoua, in the northern part if the country (Ti- border, which was undertaken between 26 and 28 November
bati-Ngaoundéré). This project will cost FCfa 258 billion. It 2015 by the troops of the Cameroonian army and those of the
is financed not only by AFD, but also by JICA, AfDB, BDEAC multinational Force, gathering soldiers, gendarmes and po-
and the State of Cameroon. licemen from the countries of the Lake Chad basin.
-16- February 2016 / N° 36BUSINESS IN CAMEROON AGRIBUSINESS Cameroon: new drop in coffee production during 2014-2015 season, at 23,865 tons The production target of 40,000 tons abica. Though it is again decreasing, as ducers, dilapidated pulping plants or of coffee planned by the Cameroonian has been the case for at least 5 years, the lack of processing plants in the produc- Minister of Trade during the launch of 2014-2015 production is however larger tions areas, lack of financing, etc. the 2014-2015 coffee season on 5 Febru- than the 16,142 tons produced in 2012- The only silver lining in the coffee sector ary 2015 in Bafoussam, was not reached. 2013, which was the worst season “out of in Cameroon, CICC points out, is the According to the Cocoa and Coffee the last 50 years” for the country, accord- local processing, whose local operators Inter-professional Council (CICC in ing to CICC, who noted in its synoptic have roasted 447 tons during the 2014- French), the national coffee production report of the 2014-2015 coffee season 2015 season. Even more, CICC stress- sold in 2014-2015 peaked at 23,865 tons, that “coffee is dying in Cameroon”. es, these coffee roasters are “more and a drop of more than 27% compared to The reasons for this programmed death more dynamic and performing”. Proof: the 32,800 tons produced during the of the coffee culture in Cameroon are in June 2015, three Cameroonian coffee previous season. numerous. The Cocoa-Coffee Coun- merchants were awarded prizes in Paris, In detail, the production of the Robusta cil lists scarcity of inputs (fertiliser and during a competition on origin coffees. variety reached 21,846 tons, with a lit- plant material), ageing of the farms, tle over 2,000 tons additionally for Ar- “pronounced loss of interest” from pro- Cameroonian coffee Close to 1,000 hectares finds new outlets of cocoa trees in China, Holland to be planted in and Malaysia East-Cameroon Out of the 23,865 tons of coffee produced in Cameroon dur- ing the 2014-2015 season, exports peaked at 23,672 tons, an increase of 8.24%, according to the end of season assessment made by the National Cocoa and Coffee Office (ONCC in French). Upon analysis, this increase in exports, despite the drop in national production (-27%), could be explained by the entry of new consumers of Cameroonian coffee in the portfo- lio of the local exporters. Indeed, the Inter-professional Cocoa and Coffee Council notes in its “synoptic” report of the 2014-2015 coffee season, China, The Haut-Nyong cocoa producers cooperative society plans to Hollande (already the destination of 80% Cameroon’s coffee) plant 910 hectares of cocoa in the Eastern region of Cameroon, and Malaysia “are the new destinations for Arabica coffee” from with the support of the Agropoles project from the ministry of Cameroon. Economy, whose aim is to create income-generating activities However, at the end of the above mentioned season, Germany, in rural areas and limit the import of foodstuffs.. Belgium and Russia remained the main Cameroonian coffee The farms, which will be spread over 7 districts in this region, destinations (Arabica and Robusta), since these three coun- will allow the production from members of this cooperative tries received 81.36% of exported volumes, the official statis- society to move from the current 165 tons of beans, to reach tics revealed. 1,300 to 1,800 tons after 3 years. February 2016 / N° 36 -17-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
In 2016, Cameroon FCfa 1.8 billion to boost
will import 60,000 the plantain production
tons of palm oil and in East Cameroon
derivatives
The Agropoles project from the
ministry of Economy, whose
aim is to create income-gen-
erating activities in rural areas,
and increase agricultural and
livestock production in order
to limit foodstuffs imports,
has just launched the Mpagne
plantain Agropole, in the town
of the same name located in the Eastern region of Cameroon.
Sponsored by the Société d’Actions Prioritaires Intégrées de
Développement Agricole au Cameroun (Sapidacam - Compa-
ny of Integrated Priority Actions for Agricultural Development
of Cameroon), this agropole represents an investment of FCfa
1.8 billion, we learnt from official sources. The goal is, through
this project, to develop the production of plantain in Mpagne
and the surrounding area, thanks to farms which will cover 2700
hectares in total. There are plans to also build 20 km of roads, to
facilitate the removal of products and access to the farms.
According to the developers of the Mpagne plantain agropole
and officials at the ministry of Economy, this project will ena-
ble the creation of approximately 500 direct jobs and over 3,000
temporary jobs during peak season.
Over 720,000 cassava
On 28 December 2015, the Cameroonian minister of Finance,
Alamine Ousmane Mey, gave a positive feedback to a request
cuttings distributed
from the minister of Trade initiated and motivated by the Reg-
ulatory Committee of the Oleaginous sector, in order to au-
to Cameroonian
producers
thorise the import, under preferential conditions, of palm oil
and its derivatives in Cameroon in 2016.
In all, the document reveals, 47,000 tons of palm oil will be im-
ported (in addition to the local production) this year in order The producers of the Littoral and Sud-Ouest regions in Cam-
to meet the demand from oil processors, against 8,000 tons of eroon have just received a cargo of over 720,000 cassava cut-
stearin and 5,000 tons of kernel oil. These raw materials will tings. These improved seedlings made available to producers
be imported exempt from VAT and with a preferential customs as part of the Agricultural Markets Investments and Develop-
rate of 5%, different from the applicable statutory price of ref- ment Project (PIDMA) will help create seedling fields.
erence of FCfa 1,500 per litre. With a FCfa 50 million funding from the World Bank, PIDMA
The biggest cargo will be imported by Société Camerounaise hopes to boost the production of cassava, maize and sorghum
de Raffinerie Maya (SCR Maya), to whom the government has in Cameroon, in order to supply the food industry.
granted an import quota of 25,000 tons of palm oil. Azur, who Unfortunately, PIDMA is taking a while to get started on the
will import 10,000 tons of palm oil, is the only company au- ground, because of the approximate structuring of the pro-
thorised to import palm oil derivatives. These are 8,000 tons of ducers’ organisations, according to the assessment from a
stearin and 5,000 tons of kernel oil. World Bank team visiting Cameroon.
-18- February 2016 / N° 36BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
Cameroon: the State withdraws from the Justin
Sugar Mills project in Batouri
LEGISLATION RELATING TO
INCENTIVES FOR PRIVATE
INVESTMENT
Since 11 December 2015, the Cameroo-
nian government has fully handed the
project back to Justin Sugar Mills. In
the correspondence notifying the pro-
ject investor of the withdrawal of the
State and the upcoming withdrawal of
the complaint against them from the
Special Criminal Court, the new min-
ister of Industry asked the CEO of Jus-
tin Sugar Mills “to request, if necessary,
the Investments Promotion Agency (in
French API), in order to profit from
facilities and the support of the State,
within the limits of the legal and regu-
latory framework in force”.
In other words, if Justin Sugar Mills fol-
lows this suggestion from the govern-
ment, the Batouri sugar industry pro-
ject could soon profit from exemptions
Flashback on the problems which led functions” noted in the implementation of 5 to 10 years, during the installation
to delays in the implementation of this of the memorandum of understanding and production stages, as provided by
FCfa 60 billion investment. signed on 13 April 2012, which links the legislation relating to incentives for
the State of Cameroon and Justin Sug- private investments in the Republic of
The Cameroonian government, through ar Mills to the Batouri sugar industry Cameroon.
a correspondence from the Minister of project; had announced the termina- An investment of FCfa 60 billion in to-
Industry, Ernest Gbwaboubou, dated 11 tion of said memorandum. A complaint tal, the Batouri industrial sugar com-
December 2015, notified the CEO of the for misappropriation of public funds plex ought to have started operations
Justin Sugar Mills company, Dieudonné against Mr. Dong Thry Dong was even from January 2014, if not for the many
Dong Thry Dong, “the disengagement of filed at the Special Criminal Court (the difficulties faced by the project, which
the State from investments in the sugar withdrawal of this complaint was initi- should lead to the creation of the first
sector”, including the one initiated by ated by the new minister of Industry on true challenger to the French group
Justin Sugar Mills in Batouri, Eastern instruction from the PM). Vilgrain on the sugar market in Cam-
Cameroon. eroon (its local subsidiary, Sosucam, is
The new Minister of Industry, who RELUCTANCE FROM COSUMAR the only company producing sugar from
acted following instructions from the In the aftermath, a call for investors principally local sugar cane).
Prime Minister in a letter dated 10 De- launched by ex-Minister Bondé led to Indeed, the project makes provision,
cember 2015 acknowledging this sugar the selection, in February 2015, of the in a first stage, for the creation of sug-
project as “being an initiative essentially Moroccan company Cosumar to take ar cane plantations on 15,000 hectares,
from the private sector”; thus put an end over this project. But, against the resist- out of a total area of 155,000 hectares
to the battle started in June 2014 by his ance of the management of Justin Sugar granted to Justin Sugar Mills in Tikondi
predecessor, Emmanuel Bondé, in order Mills, who kept denouncing a conspira- and Bodongué, in the Batouri area. With
to push away Justin Sugar Mills from cy by Minister Bondé against their pro- a processing plant of an initial produc-
this food industry project which should ject (FCfa 13 billion have been claimed tion capacity of 60,000 tons per year, the
create approximately 10,000 jobs in from the State as compensation for the Batouri sugar complex would generate
landlocked East Cameroon. prejudice caused to Justin Sugar Mills), 5,000 direct jobs and 2,500 indirect jobs.
Indeed, on 26 June 2014, the then Min- Cosumar will hesitate launching into
ister of Industry, on the grounds of “dys- the project. BRM
February 2016 / N° 36 -19-BUSINESS IN CAMEROON FINANCE Over 220 operators are working illegally in the courier and money transfer services in Cameroon According to estimates from the Cam- to clean up this sector. the appropriate departments at the eroonian ministry of Posts and Tele- In reality, we learned, apart from Cam- ministry of Posts and Telecoms, only 13 coms, over 220 operators are working post, the public postal service compa- have received their “temporary approv- illegally in the courier and money trans- ny, almost all the courier and money al”, while many more have already been fer sector in the country. “This negative- transfer companies that are spreading formally notified for not paying the de- ly affects the service quality for consumers throughout the cities of Cameroon have posit since submitting their application. and the interests of the State”, the Minis- not yet met all the requirements of the Meanwhile, they have opened and freely ter of Posts and Telecoms, Minette Libo- legislation in force on this subject. started operations. im Li Likeng, indicated during a meet- Even though numerous operators have ing organised on 13 January in Yaoundé, indeed submitted their application to Cameroon casts its hopes on banking sector to finance 12.5% of 2016 budget In 2016, Cameroon’s debt will increase by FCfa 1,055 billion. This is what the 2016 Finance bill reveals, according to which 25% of the 2016 budget of the State of Cameroon will be provid- ed by loans, including FCfa 505 billion from dif- ferent international lenders, FCfa 250 billion to be raised on the local banking market and FCfa 300 billion through the issuance of public bonds. In total, the banks, which are also the only approved Spécialistes en Valeur du Trésor (SVT-Specialists in Treasury Securities) in the country and as a consequence the only institu- tions allowed to raise funds during issuance of public bonds, will pay approximately FCfa 550 billion to the public Treasury of Cameroon in 2016. This corresponds to 12.5% of the coun- try’s global budget. Though this appeal to the banks by the State will contribute towards making the credit port- folio of banking institutions more substantial in general, it could however according to some analysts, make it a bit more difficult for the pri- vate sector to access bank funding; due to banks usually having more confidence in the State than in SMEs. -20- February 2016 / N° 36
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON The common bank card to the six countries of the CEMAC will be launched on 29 January 2016 in Yaoundé The Electronic Inter-banking Group of mac, in an interview given to Quotidien it (BICEC in French), the Commercial Central Africa (Gimac) will officially de l’Economie. According to him, this Bank Chad (CBT), Ecobank Cameroon, launch, on 29 January 2016 in Yaoundé, community bank card is “a reality since already certified in 2015, are now at the the Cameroonian capital, the “Gimac the first quarter of 2015” and “there was inter-banking pre-production”, the MD card”, which can be used to withdraw an order for two hundred and fifty thou- of Gimac specified. money and make payments through sand (250,000) cards by end December With “about 10 banks already operating the electronic terminals of the six coun- 2015 from the banks that have already on the platform” at the moment, “and tries (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Chad, been certified”. another 10 or more projects of bank in- Equatorial Guinea and CAR) of the According to Mr. Mbozo’o, this new fi- tegration starting from January 2016, Gi- Economic and Monetary Community nancial integration tool in the CEMAC mac is targeting the integration of most of of Central African States (CEMAC in area “is marketed by the National Finan- its members by end 2016, to finish setting French). cial Credit (NFC)”, a Cameroonian mi- up the inter-banking infrastructure of The information was revealed by Cam- crofinance institution. “The Cameroon the electronic payments ecosystem of the eroonian Valentin Mbozo’o, MD of Gi- International Bank for Savings and Cred- sub-region”, Valentin Mbozo’o indicates. February 2016 / N° 36 -21-
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON Proparco loans FCfa 26 billion to BICEC to support Cameroonian companies Proparco, a subsidiary of the French Devel- opment Agency (Agence Française de Dével- oppement - AFD) dedicated to financing the private sector, announced on 18 December 2015 having granted a credit line of FCfa 26.2 billion to BICEC, the Cameroonian subsid- iary of the French banking group BPCE, in order to support the local economy. In practical terms, the Proparco commu- niqué stressed, “this financing will enable the (credit) establishment to develop its credit activity in the middle and long term in Cam- eroon”, lending to companies who represent approximately 80% of the global financing granted by BICEC. Among the top three banks operating in Cameroon, BICEC, with a network of 37 branches covering the whole country, has in its portfolio companies active in sectors such as energy, food industry, telecoms, manufac- turing industry, trading and distribution. Established in the economic capital of Cam- eroon for over 10 years now, Proparco for its part works with the private sector in a wide variety of sectors such as energy, telecoms, food industry or finances. To date, its finan- cial commitments in the region have totalled approximately FCfa 98.4 billion. Cameroon will raise between FCfa 52 to 57 billion on the BEAC market during the first quarter of 2016 The Cameroonian Treasury launched comes up to a total of FCfa 42 billion, to State on the financial market in 2016 on 13 January 2016, its fundraising op- which must be added a Fungible Treas- will amount to a total of FCfa 370 bil- erations on the BEAC public stock mar- ury Bond (FTB) issuance of between lion, out of which FCfa 210 billion will ket, for the new budgetary year. For this fcfa 10 and 15 billion. be raised through the issuance of Treas- first issuance of Fungible Treasury Bills In total, the Treasury is planning to raise ury Bills and FCfa 60 billion through for 2016, the government raised FCfa 7 between between FCfa 52 and 57 bil- the issuance of Treasury Bonds on the billion, in accordance with the provi- lion on the BEAC stock market during public stock market of the Central Bank sional timetable established by the Min- the first quarter of 2016, to finance its of the Cemac States, followed by a FCfa istry of Finance. budget deficit on the one hand, and to 100 billion bond, which will certainly be Five other Fungible Treasury Bills issu- finance projects in the 2016 public in- launched on the Douala Stock Exchange ances of the same amount are planned vestments budget on the other hand. (DSX), the country’s stock market. to take place on 27 January, 10 and 24 According to our sources, all the oper- February, 9 and 23 March 2016. This ations to be made by the Cameroonian -22- February 2016 / N° 36
BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
TELECOM
Cameroonian Tradex wants to create WiFi areas
in its service stations
Cameroonian company Tradex, a sub- These works will enable these shops to cluding 57 in Cameroon, 20 in the Cen-
sidiary of the Société Nationale des have internet connection (WiFi) and a tral African Republic and two in Chad.
Hydrocarbures (SNH – National Pe- coffee area called Trad’café. Tradex will On 3 November 2015, Tradex official-
troleum Company) specialised in bun- thus become the first company to offer ly launched its activities in Equatorial
kering, the trade and distribution of oil an internet connection to its clients in Guinea, a country where this Cameroo-
products is currently refurbishing 25 its service stations, its competitors, Total nian oil company is planning to “supply
shops (25 additional shops to follow in a and Oilybia, having already opened cof- fishing trawlers and other vessels deploy-
second phase) located in its service sta- fee areas in their stations. ing in the Guinea Gulf in bunkers”.
tions in the cities of Yaoundé, Edéa and Tradex claims a global network of 79
Douala, we officially learned. service stations in the CEMAC area, in-
Cameroon establishes a 2% tax on mobile
telephone calls and internet
cess to increase its tax base.
Indeed, according to the national tele-
com regulatory body, the mobile pene-
tration rate in Cameroon increased from
9.8% to 71% between 2004 and 2014.
With more than 18 million mobile sub-
scribers out of 22 million inhabitants,
three operators and an internet penetra-
tion rate increased by mobile internet
(boosted by the recent introduction of
3G); the Cameroon telecoms sector is
booming. And the State, through this
tax, has every intention to reap the most
benefits. Anyway, to go well beyond the
FCfa 617 billion in taxes paid by mobile
operators in Cameroon during the peri-
od covering 2012-2014.
This tax could even change in the com-
ing years. This, particularly as the Cam-
eroonian government awarded, in No-
vember 2015, a FCfa 46 million contract
Starting from 2016, mobile operators recently by MPs at Parliament. to Resytal, to make “a comparative study
and internet access providers operating In addition to aligning itself to a di- on the tax system and levies to which op-
in Cameroon will pay to the State the rective from the CEMAC which ad- erators from some African countries with
equivalent of 2% of their turnover for vocates for the taxation of telephone the same level of development in the elec-
telephone calls and internet services. calls, the Cameroonian government tronic communications field, particularly
This is one of the main novelties of the visibly wants to benefit from the boom Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana,
2016 Finance bill, currently on second in the mobile market in the country to are subjected”.
reading at the Senate, after being passed replenish its coffers, as part of the pro-
February 2016 / N° 36 -23-BUSINESS IN CAMEROON
Orange, MTN and Camtel
contest National Anti-Corruption
Commission report
Camtel was the first to challenge the
CONAC report on 20 January, stating
that the data in it “neither reflected the
current debt of the company to the tax au-
thorities, let alone Camtel obligations to
national financial institutions”. And the
national telecoms operator continued
by revealing that on 6 October 2015 “a
netting agreement” signed with the gov-
ernment of Cameroon turned out to “be
in favour of Camtel, for a total amount of
FCfa 15,296,426,414”.
A report of the National Anti-Commis- appears on a list of companies accused by The following day, MTN Cameroon, in
sion accuses Camtel, MTN and Orange a report of the National Anti-Corrution an official communiqué, also called the
of owing the sum of FCfa 170 billion to Commission (CONAC)”, highlights the CONAC report into question, stating
the Cameroonian state, the breakdown telephone operator.
being a little more than FCfa 76 billion Having mentioned “that it is a corporate
for MTN; FCfa 76.3 for Orange and 18.1 citizen, whose actions follow the most de- This is not the
billion for Camtel, the public operator. manding ethical standards and known
These amounts according to CONAC as such throughout the world”, Orange first time that a
CONAC report has
represent the cumulative sum of certain Cameroon “is delighted to contribute in a
taxes (on advertising, gambling activi- significant manner to the socio-econom-
ties, etc) not paid to the tax authorities,
as well as unpaid royalties to the Regu-
ic development of the country, notably in
paying in full all the royalties and taxes it been contested in
lator ART. is subject to, in accordance with applica-
ble regulations”. Moreover the company Cameroon.
In a “correction to the record” made pub- announces “its permanent availability to
lic on 21 January 2016, Orange Came- provide any relevant clarification in case that “it was a perfectly responsible inves-
roon contested the report of the Na- of need”. tor up-to-date with its fiscal obligations to
tional Anti-Corruption Commission different competent authorities”, and that
(CONAC) presented in Yaoundé on 19 With this rejoinder from Orange Cam- this company “is not and has never been
January, and which blamed this mobile eroon, it is finally the three telecom op- involved in corrupt actions, in the pursuit
of its activities”.
Camtel was the first to challenge the CONAC This is not the first time that a CONAC
report has been contested in Cameroon.
report on 20 January One recalls some years ago, a report on
the supervision of the Ayos-Bonis road
works, between the Central and East-
telephone operator of certain irregu- erators accused of different irregulari- ern regions, raised protests, as did the
larities leading to the non-payment of ties by CONAC to the detriment of the report published some months ago on
taxes and other royalties, to the tune of Cameroonian Treasury, who contest the the management of Sodecoton, the flag-
FCfa 76.3 billion. “Orange Cameroon, report produced by this body in charge ship in agribusiness in the north of the
respectful of the institutions of the Re- of fighting corruption in the country. country.
public, learned through the press that it Camtel and MTN also... Brice R. Mbodiam
-24- February 2016 / N° 36You can also read
