The decision to sign a pre- Economic Partnership Agreement five years ago with the European Union with the view of building up a complete agreement to liberalise 80 percent of importation from the E.U was taken in cognisance of the challenges that await the new dispensation.

For one thing, the country knew it was going in for an agreement that will put its competitiveness ability on a scale with nations considered far advanced in production both quantitatively and qualitatively. Secondly, EPA entails readjusting to the exigencies of international competition.

This engagement so to say is expected to span over a period of 15 years. Even though the country is far advanced on the negotiating table, it is important to reflect deeply in order to avoid the nefarious consequences that may befall the new situation. From every indication, the major things to readjust is to readapt the economic structures that will enable the country improve the quality and quantity of its products. This is the real challenge and an expensive one for that matter. The good thing is that European nations themselves are aware of the inequality between them and Cameroon economic structures notably production industries.

What does it then take to readapt is the question on many minds. The government does not seem to be indifferent to this and that explains why the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development has been working to ensure that the country does not enter into the deal ill prepared. The adaption plan is what has been at the centre of discuss yesterday and the most disturbing thing is that colossal sums will be needed to finance it. Authorities are talking of FCFA 2,500 billion. Cameroon is expected to provide 80 per cent of the finances, the rest coming from its partners.

If this money were to be mobilised, three important things will need to be done to raise the country’s level of competitiveness. These include; capacity building for and improving of company performance level, building of production capacity and development of production standards and norms. In addition to these, the country needs to readjust its fiscal and institutional setup in order to march the exigencies of the EPA.