The Public-Private partnership umbilical cord is expected to take another leap.

A press statement issued by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development has not only underscored the need for the two development actors to deepen their collaboration in enhancing projects earmarked for execution but has streamlined a number of major projects for which top priority must be given.

The statement comes back to the new system of contracting which is appears more attractive and beneficial to both the contractor and the State. The Built-Operate-Transfer (B.O.T) system is a fundamental option taken by government to ensure and fast-track the execution of major projects. It is within this framework that government is extending a hand of cooperation with the private sector be it national or international. And so, in 2013, 21 projects will be at the disposal of the private sector for collaboration, especially in the field of financing. Four main sectors have particularly been earmarked. These include: transport, urban development, energy and food conservation.

The decision to invite the private sector to participate in the various projects opens another important page in the public-private sector partnership which has so far been characterised by meetings, signing of texts and consultations but which has so far not produced any palpable results. As to why it has taken so much time for the two partners to agree to work in synergy is another issue but the press statement inviting the private sector to particularly take part in the projects as from this budgetary year is a thing of praise worthy.

In order to facilitate things for the private sector, government has put in place a legal and regulatory framework, instituted an expert organisation code name: Support Advisory for the Execution of Partnership Contract (CARPA), major project economic and financial analyses tool and an established Memorandum of Understanding.

The collaboration could take several forms. Local enterprises that might not have enough resources could choose as aspect of a project for financing. In the same vein, companies of international calibre could take over the whole project. The ball is now in the court of the private sector.