As the countdown to emergence narrows, Cameroonians and most importantly decision-makers and private sector actors, now know that the target will be difficult to attain if industrialisation is not given a boost.
In effect, the process by which traditional non-industrial sectors of the economy become increasingly similar to the manufacturing sector by virtue of the fact that they spearhead sustained economic development based on factory production, division of labour, concentration of industries and population in certain geographical areas, among others, absolutely needs to be given a fresh beginning in the country.
Like a real master, President Paul Biya in his New Year address on December 31, 2015 galvanised the entire country to surmounting the challenge of industrialisation, given its importance to long-term socio-economic development. In all solemnity, the Head of State stated that; “The major challenge for the country in 2016 will be to create conditions conducive to real industrialisation. Emergence is inconceivable without a viable industrial sector.” Emphasising on the issue of industrialisation as a ‘major challenge’ is telling of the importance the Chief Executive attaches to the process.
It couldn’t have been otherwise anyway looking at the pivotal role industrialisation has played in other economies judged advanced or emerging. In fact, it is a veritable springboard to attaining the middle-income economy that Cameroon hopes to, by 2035. Not only does it herald real development of the huge natural resources that Cameroon is endowed with, through sustained productivity, but industrialisation will equally ensure value addition to our products, reduce the near total dependence on foreign countries for finished and semi-finished goods, fetch foreign earnings from the export of finished goods and why not generate the much-needed jobs for the thousands, if not, millions of the unemployed citizens.
Given that industrialisation, to say the least, ‘real industrialisation’ like President Paul Biya put it, requires solid groundwork, decision-makers and partners therefore have a challenge to clear obstacles or, in other words, set the base for win-win investments in the industrial sector of the country. Cameroon, like he said, has substantial agricultural, mining, cultural and human resources that constitute growth potentials for the country. But the availability of adequate and permanent energy supply, development of communication and telecommunications infrastructure, among others, are prerequisite for the real industrialisation that President Paul Biya wants of Cameroon from 2016 henceforth. Thank God he has, “instructed the government to accelerate the creation of conditions necessary for our country’s industrialisation.”
The government therefore has an uphill task to fast-track projects in these domains. Ongoing giant energy projects upon completion will generate a non-negligible quantity of energy for industrial use. But developing the transmission lines that would move the electricity from the plants to factories as well as sourcing for funds to take other projects off the ground would not be the least of things to be done.
The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, government’s arm in matters of industrialisation, has been working to draft a National Industrialisation Master Plan. Getting it handy as fast as possible and defining clearly who is supposed to do what where and when for the much-heralded dream of real industrialisation to yield desired fruits will be highly welcomed. Above all, the production sectors of the economy will need to redouble their efforts to provide the much-awaited industries with quantity and quality raw materials, through an optimal development of the country’s huge God-given resources.
