Vendors on the site are still to be relocated but organisers say everything will be ready before the November 25 kick off date.

The site to play host to the 2010 trade fair at the Tsinga neighbourhood in Yaounde, code-named, “Foire Promo 2010” is still to get a new code of paint reserved for villages of events of that nature. Vendors who were displaced from Marché Centrale and temporarily resettled on the site are yet to leave the trade fair ground for their new site at Mvog-Betsi.

CT visited the Foire village yesterday and the vendors were still actively carrying out their activities in their stalls though business activity was timid. While the stands occupied are still intact with the goods, the rest of the village is covered with debris. Grass has grown all over as those selling there only take care of their stalls and immediate surroundings. In a chat with CT, the spokesperson of the vendors, Pierre Zambo, said they got news of plans to hold a trade fair and the November 25, 2010 kick off on the media. “We have not been officially informed and the site where we were asked to be relocated at Mvog-Betsi is not ready”, he said. That notwithstanding, he said, they are ready to leave the site as soon as they are sure their relocation site is ready. “We have been waiting for relocation, after all, business is not booming here”, he added.

At the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Crafts, there is serenity and sources say the two and half weeks remaining for kick off are enough time to settle all these problems. Officials sounded optimistic that everything will be well. “We have been officially informed that the site is free. Rehabilitation work was supposed to have begun”, they said. “When the site must have been cleared of debris, effective refurbishing work will begin to make the site ready for the event”, they went on.

While all hands are on deck to bring the site to acceptable standard, officials say the trade fair will bring together business people from within and without Cameroon to showcase their business know-how. “Business people from countries like China, Syria and Iran have already shown interest to participate. We are waiting for their confirmation”.