The Board of Governors of the Public Contracts Regulatory Agency, ARMP, has approved a budget of FCFA 9,830,000,000 for the 2011 financial year. Meeting on wednesday December 29 at its Mballa II, Yaounde headquarters in its 19^th Ordinary Session, the board meeting presided by the Chair, Dr Hamadjoda Adjoudji, also reviewed the activities of the agency for 2010 as well as drawing an action plan for 2011. Speaking to the press after the session, ARMP Director General, Jean Jacques Ndoudoumou described Cameroon’s state contract system as one of the best on the continent.

According to ARMP officials, its activities in 2010 focused on taking the agency closer to the public with its branch offices in all regions going operational, building the capacity of partners, improving the functioning of the public contracts integrated information system and its communication outreach, and the strengthening of cooperation ties between national and international partners.

The agency in 2011, on the other hand, shall mostly focus on building on the gains of 2010. In this light, it shall continue improving the legal framework for contract awards, the integrated information system, more capacity building of partners, strengthening cooperation with partners, and building on its communication outreach. This, a source at the agency explained, is in preparation for the tenth anniversary celebrations of ARMP due next year.

Like the name suggests, the Public Contracts Regulatory Agency’s role is to oversee the award of contracts by ministries, parastatals, councils, etc on behalf of the state. This watchdog function is facilitated by sensitization programmes on state-run CRTV radio and the publication of a weekly magazine containing state tenders.