A total of eight audiences were granted by President Paul Biya yesterday January 4, 2013 at the Hotel Le Meurice in Paris. Stretching from 11 a.m. to 6 pm with a break between one and four o’clock, the audiences involved top-level business magnates and communication experts. A delegation representing the Cameroon Community in France was also received in audience by the Head of State. The first personality to be received in audience was Yannick Morillon, the Chief Executive Officer of GEOCOTON, a strategic partner and shareholder of SODECOTON in Cameroon. Top on the agenda of discussions were agricultural issues. The presence of Essimi Menye, Cameroon’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development during this audience was an indication of the diversity of subjects concerning the development and marketing of cotton. The second audience of the day was granted to a communication expert and pioneer Director of the Yaounde Advanced School of Mass Communication, Herve Bourges. As the current President of the Permanent Committee of diversity (France Televisions) Herve Bourges said the audience dwelled essentially on the media and communication. The possible celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Yaoundé Advanced School of Mass Communication was mentioned as well.
Stability and Progress
The Chief Executive Officer of the SOFEMA Group, Guillaume Giscard d’Estaing was the third on the list. The business magnate discussed a wide-range of issues with the Head of State, delving particularly on the economic development of Cameroon. Stephane Fouks, one of the Executive Presidents of Euro RSCG Worldwide was granted the fourth and last audience of the first half of the day. Their discussions were pegged on his admiration of the coherence of President Paul Biya’s actions in all aspects of national life in Cameroon. The link between the preservation of national unity and economic development, in his estimation, guarantees the modernity of Cameroon. On the pre-eminence of the social network in today’s realm of communication, Stephane Fouks said no nation can be absent from the social network, insisting that there must be a permanent conversation by all.
Phase two of the audiences yesterday in Paris changed the setting, moving from the Salon Pompadour on the ground floor of Hotel Le Meurice to the first floor. Madame Clara Gaymard, President of General Electric France, accompanied by Pamphile Djoffon, Director General of General Electric International Operations Cameroon were the first to be received in audience in the afternoon. They insisted that their priorities are in harmony with the needs of Cameroon in the transportation, medical and aeronautics sectors. The stability of Cameroon and the economic progress were once again cited by Madame Clara Gaymard as favourable investment factors. She concluded that they have handed over to the President their detailed proposals.
Natural Communicator
Another lady, Patricia Balme was ushered in for the sixth audience of the day. The boss of PB COM International came out of the audience to stress that Cameroon has the best communicator in President Paul Biya himself. She lauded the dynamics of the greater realisations and declared that President Paul Biya’s Press Conference at the Elysee Palace was the best ever and the entire Working Visit a huge success.
Gimmy Ricci, Chief Executive Officer of CRAFTS Contractors International was the seventh in line for the day’s audiences. His main project presented to President Paul Biya was the construction of a new airport in Cameroon. The eighth and last audience was granted to a delegation of about twenty-three representatives of the Cameroon Community in France. These included Manu Dibango, Gaston Kelman, Marie Roger Biloa, Calixthe Beyala, Constant Nemale and Mvondo Mvondo among others.
The discussions had to do with the usual needs of the diaspora. Support for the greater realisation projects and loyalty to the fatherland were loudly expressed by the representatives of the Cameroon community. In the press briefings by the personalities who were granted audiences by President Paul Biya, the themes of peace, stability and economic development were frequently re-echoed. The link between stability and economic progress remains an effective incentive for investors to opt for the Cameroon destination.
President Paul Biya whose personality and reputation are inextricably linked to the philosophy of peace and stability is seen by the numerous personalities on the audience roster as the most eloquent attraction for the choice of Cameroon by investors. The importance attached to these audiences by numerous French business magnates is a sterling barometer reading of their trust and respect for Cameroon’s political leadership and all the actions taken so far to create a business friendly environment. The Cameroon community representatives received in audience told the media of their total support to President Paul Biya and his policies of peace, stability and economic progress. They praised the huge success registered during the President’s on-going Working Visit in France.
