Committees began scrutinising bills on December 02, 2013.

Three committees of the Senate yesterday December 2, 2013 began examining bills tabled at the House at the opening of the November ordinary session for scrutiny. The Economic Affairs Committee scrutinised the bill governing Economic Zones in Cameroon while that of Finance and Budget examined that related to the extension of deadlines for the execution of the 2013 Public Investment Budget and the 2013 Finance Law. The Foreign Affairs Committee examined the bills on the African Tax Administrative Forum and the Kyoto Convention.

Economic Zones

The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi told the press after defending the bill that creating employment was primary as government seeks to improve on economic growth. This explains why it was necessary to create economic zones that will permit investors to know where to establish in the country. Senators however, insisted that such zones should not only be created in some  parts of the country but should be nationwide. The bill lays down the general framework for the establishment, development and management of economic zones, as well as conditions for admission of enterprises to such zones. It lists the entities authorized to supervise and manage economic zones, namely an Economic Zone Promotion Agency, a Promoter and where necessary a Manager.

Public Investment Budget

The two bills Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey of Finance defended in Committee on Finance and Budget were that on the 2013 Finance Law and the ordinance on the period of the payment of the 2013 Public Investment Budget. He said it was important because of “The delay we have recorded in executing the Public Investment Budget.” A budget, he said, has the objective to serve the population and “if we realize that this goal is not achieved, it is important that management takes necessary measures to curb this and this is what the Head of State just did by signing the extension Ordinance we just defended the bill,” Ousmane Mey noted. The extension of the debt ceiling which is moving from FCFA 200 billion to FCFA 500 billion will help the country take the advantage of the proposals made by different partners, Finance boss said, adding that it will make sure that the projects on the country’s lists of structural investment are being financed properly.

By press time, the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute was defending the bill to authorise the President of the Republic to proceed with formalities for Cameroon’s accession to the Agreement on the Establishment of the African Tax Administration Forum. The Foreign Affairs Committee also had to examine the bill to authorize the President of the Republic to proceed with the formalities for Cameroon’s accession to the revised Kyoto Convention, which was signed on June 26, 1999 and entered into force on February 3, 2006.

Present through the examination of yesterday’s bills was the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali and the Secretary General of the Senate, Michel Meva M’Eboutou.