Cameroon Tribune’s Special edition tells the story of the hurdles the country needs to overcome in order to effectively get out of industrial darkness.
Economists have been saying with increasing insistence that nothing else will effectively propel Cameroon to achieve high growth rate, diversified economy as well as reduced exposure to external shocks than industrialisation. But for this to happen, a number of preconditions must be fulfilled. As a country that virtually has all that it takes to get into the mainstream of industrialisation, it becomes quite disturbing for Cameroon to continue to find itself in an almost perpetual industrial stagnation. This state of affairs leaves no one indifferent. To expressed its worry at what may likely become an economic mockery, Cameroon Tribune in its special edition tries to dig deeper to find out where things went wrong and how best to overcome the hurdles.
The 98-page document is surely a perfect illustration of the concern of the paper as portrayed in the medley of well researched stories and various opinions from specialists in the sector. There couldn’t have been any better way to give an opening headline to such a piece; “Opportunities for Economic Take off” in English and “les leviers du décollage” in French. In this edition; June, 2015, reporters tell the story so succinctly and break down the economic language for easy understanding. The line of thinking that thread through the 50 articles epitomised by the Editorial, Update and the general introduction readily translates the position of the magazine which from every indication is not far from that of many an conscious Cameroonian.
The problem of industrialisation as handled in the special edition is segmented into six main parts; the faces of Cameroon’s industries, blockages to real industrialisation, government action to reverse the trend, perspectives, differing opinions and post scriptum. The opening write-ups, made up of an editorial, an update and two general introductions in English and French, question why industrialisation is lagging behind, reminds of the need to inject ingredients in the whole gamut of industrial activities and wonder why daring should not be the watchword for a lasting solution.
In this edition, the reader will understand the situation of the national industry with particular focus on agric-industry, textile, and cement and other building materials, wood development, mining oil exploration and extraction, and metal work. The Yaounde, Bonaberi, Bassa, Bamenda and Bafoussam industrial zone are given an inner look. Other issues analysed in the special edition include: the business environment, infrastructure development, Funding, insufficient research, unavoidable rail transport, public-private partnership, government incentives, energy and infrastructure.
The special edition tells that the future of industrialisation in Cameroon lies in sectors such as cotton/textile; plantain, cocoa and coffee, corn, timber, pharmaceutical industry, building construction, cassava and handicraft. Industrialists and other specialists have equally been given space to tell their story while two examples of African countries that have succeeded or have forged far in industrialisation (Nigeria and South Africa) are used in order to demonstrate the possibility of becoming an industrial nation.
