After visiting palm and oil mill estates in Ndian Division, the tour continued in Limbe, Mondoni and Benoe Banana Projects in Fako Division.

The role of the agro-industrial giant, Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, in Cameroon’s economy, has again taken centre-stage with the four-day working visit to the South West Region of the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Jean Nkuete. The four-day visit started on Tuesday, April 12, with the arrival of the Vice Prime Minister and his delegation from Yaounde. On Wednesday, April 13, the first stop of Jean Nkuete, accompanied by the Governor of the South West Region, Koumpa Issa, and the General Manager of the CDC, Henry Njalla Quan, was at the Illoani Oil Mill Project in Ndian Division, which cost close to FCFA 7 billion to construct.

According to the former manager of the Illoani Estate, Mr. Chungong Polycarpe, the Illoani Oil Mill has no limited duration, for it can last for more than 100 years if well maintained. Cameroon Tribune gathered that material to construct and equip the oil mill came from Malaysia; while the civil work, assembly and construction were done by CDC engineers.

After Illoani, the Vice Prime Minister and his entourage proceeded to the Boa Plain in Ndian Division where 1,000 hectares of palms have been planted. Mr. Fosah Peter, CDC Boa Project Manager, told CT that the Illoani Oil Mill produces 15 metric tons of oil per hour.

Also visited were the Dikoume and Boa palm nurseries (still in Ndian Division). CT gathered that the Boa Project employs 250 permanent workers. However, most of the work is given out on contract. Pieced together, there are close to 450 workers, both permanent and temporary at the Boa Project.

Today, April 14, the Vice Prime Minister will be in Limbe and will visit the Matouke project of hydra-form houses. He will also visit CDC factories, banana expansion projects, Mondoni Phase II Banana Expansion Project, Benoe Phase I Banana Expansion Project, among others.

The CDC, it should be recalled, employs close to 20.000 workers with about 5,000 temporary and 15,000 permanent. The agro-industrial giant is the second highest employer after the state.