Negative Perception Of Cameroon's Business Environment Unfounded
By Kimeng Hilton NDUKONG, Cameroon Tribune, 01-09-2013
Outgoing British High Commission, Bharat Joshi, made the disclosure in Yaounde on August 29, 2013.
Contrary to some impressions abroad that Cameroon is a difficult
place to do business, the outgoing British High Commissioner to
Cameroon, Bharat Joshi, says his four-year tenure has shown that the
reality on the ground is quite different.
The British diplomat was speaking on Thursday, August 29, 2013 at the
Yaounde Mont Febe Hotel at a State dinner hosted by the Minister of
External Relations, Prof. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, on behalf of His
Excellency, President Paul Biya. By liaising with government and British
companies in the country, the High Commissioner said he found out that
investors who follow official structures, abide by the laws and work
properly, face no hurdles.
Joshi said he believes Cameroon is on course to emergence with
ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and the adoption of a new
Investment Code that have enabled companies to gain more influence. He
pointed out that though the negative perception of the country’s
business environment persists, there have been great improvements in the
last four years. In order to change the trend, Bharat Joshi said he
worked with both the British and Cameroonian governments and talked to
the media on the true state of affairs in the country.
He noted that this week’s first Cameroon-Britain Joint Commission
meeting in London will be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to the
British business community that what they hear of Cameroon is not
necessarily true. British companies in Cameroon, he disclosed, abide by
some of the most stringent anti-corruption laws in Africa in carrying
out their activities. The outgoing diplomat commended Cameroon for its
legendary stability in what he described as an often volatile
sub-region, adding that the country was about to realise its full
economic potentials. He also lauded the peaceful resolution of the
Bakassi conflict between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Earlier in his toast, Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo said High
Commissioner Joshi represented his country in Cameroon with
professionalism and dignity, with his tenure seeing the strengthening of
cooperation between the two countries. He said Bharat Joshi worked so
hard for the holding of this week’s first Joint Commission meeting. The
Minister noted that among recent British investments in the country is
the hydroelectric dam project on River Katsina Ala in Menchum Division
of the North West Region that is greatly appreciated by Cameroonians.
The outgoing British High Commissioner was decorated with Cameroon’s
highest medal, the Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour and
offered gifts by the Minister of External Relations. The function was
attended by several cabinet ministers and other dignitaries.
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