Government has tabled two bills at the National Assembly for approval which would allow the President of the Republic to ratify a law on forest governance and amendments to the articles of agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Bill No. 888/PJL/AN, scrutinised by the Foreign Affairs Committee on wednesday June 8 in the ongoing second ordinary session for the 2011 8^th legislative period, authorises the President of the Republic to ratify the amendments to the articles of agreement of the International Monetary Fund on improving the representation and participation of member States within it and the expansion of its power with respect to investment and the reform of its executive board. The bill enables Cameroon, member of the group of 24 African countries represented on the IMF executive board, to participate actively in the process of entry into force of the various reforms undertaken since 2008. The ratification of the amendments by the President of the Republic should, at the end of the process, enable Cameroon to hold 276 million Special Drawing Rights instead of the current 185.7 million and 0.103 per cent of voting rights. On government’s bench was the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of Finance, Pierre Titti.

The other bill, Bill No. 887/PJL/AN, authorises the President of the Republic to ratify the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Cameroon and the European Union on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and its by-products with the European Union (FLEGT VPA). The agreement, signed in Brussels, Belgium, on October 6, 2010, aims to improve governance in the forest sector and to ensure that timber exported to the European Union meets all the legal requirements in the country. It also seeks to promote trade in timber and its by-products, promote the development of forest industries and enhance the sector’s competitiveness as well as check illegal forest exploitation. Experts say the agreement equally sets out the legal framework and procedures for controlling the legality of timber and its by-products, enhance stakeholders’ capacities in the forest sector and encourage investment to ensure sustainable forest management. The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Prof. Elvis Ngolle provided answers to questions emanating from the bill.

The two government ministers were accompanied by the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute and the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assembly, Gregoire Owona. This Thursday’s schedule has a Forum on Ethics and Civic Education at the Lycée Leclerc campus.