Regional Integration: Hastening Infrastructural Projects Execution

(Cameroon Tribune) Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey and his Chadian counterpart met in Yaounde on July 5, 2018 to discuss possibilities of speeding up realisation of three major projects.
Cameroon and Chad are working together to get development partners buy their proposals for reducing deadlines and speeding up works on three major projects that would facilitate the integration of both countries.
Dr. Issa Doubragne, Minister of Economy
and Development Planning of Chad on a working visit to Cameroon on July 5, was received in the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey.
Minister Ousmane Mey told reporters both countries are agreed on the need to fast track the construction of a bridge over the Logone River in the Far North Region to link Cameroon and Chad. The construction of the bridge is financed by the African Development Bank and the European Union. He said both countries also want to accelerate the connection of Chad to Cameroon's electricity grid and speed up the extension of the national railroad to Chad.
They want to shorten the period of feasibility studies for the railway project to be completed by 2019 so that construction can begin immediately after.
But this can only be done with the consent of the African Development Bank, reason why Minister Ousmane Mey said they were going to engage in a strong lobby before the funder. "It is the same case with the bridge over the Logone River. We want to draw the attention of all stakeholders to accelerate execution of the project.  We are looking at performance and efficiency,” he said.
He also disclosed that besides discussing infrastructure, he and his guest also talked about organising a Chad-Cameroon business forum to bring together businessmen in the private sector that would brainstorm on investment opportunities in both countries and elsewhere in the sub region.
The Chadian Minister on his part said citizens have been hearing a lot about regional integration and it's high time they started feeling the impact. “It is the duty of governments to ensure improvements in the people’s lives and we are going to do just that" he said, adding that Chad and Cameroon are the leaders of regional integration in the CEMAC area.
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