The Entrepreneur - Cameroon's Premier Economic & Business Journal

GICAM Seeks Help for Economic Growth in Cameroon

French Organization Invites Proposals from Private Sector

By Irene Zih Fon

The President of Cameroon's Group of Business Owners, GICAM, has asked the French Development Agency (AFD), to help boost the economy by ameliorating the business climate and restructuring enterprises. Olivier BEHLE was addressing the Director General of the Organization, Jean-Michel SEVERINO, while he presided at a meeting with a cross section of economic stakeholders in  Douala on February 13, 2009.

"Government Should Recognise Achievements of Cameroonian Writers," - Larry Bate Takang

Rotterdam-based Cameroonian journalist and writer, who recently released his second book, “Pilgrimage of No Retreat”, says people tend to show interest when their government shows interest, and would develop a passion when writing can earn you fame, money, awards and respect. He believes Cameroon should not have a problem of reading culture, because it has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. In the following Interview he talks about issues covered in his writing, his journalism training, career and networking, as well as ongoing and future projects that have Africa at heart.

Rotterdam Based Cameroonian Journalist Releases New Book

By Irene Zih Fon

A new book has been potentially added unto the bookshelves of book lovers in Cameroon and across the world, with the announcement of the release of Larry Bate Takang’s "Pilgrimage of no Retreat" by Africa Press International (API) and A&A printers Florida, USA. The Cameroonian born Dutch journalist has over a hundred published Newspaper and Magazine articles, with several years of Radio and TV experience. Pilgrimage of no Retreat" (I SBN: 978-1-60725-981-7) is a collection of 50 fascinating poems covering a wide range of subjects including nature, death, hope, metaphysics, love, life and history among others. It is an 86-page paperback book written in English and published in the United States by A&A Printers, Florida.

Mount Cameroon International Race of Hope 2009 in Full Gear

By Ben Nakomo & Bright Lokenge

More than six hundred athletes are taking part in a Mountain race in Cameroon. The race kicked-off this morning at exactly 7.00 Central African Time (CAT). Mount Cameroon, located in the Southwest region of Cameroon, towers at 4100 meters above sea level. It is an active volcano with rugged terrain. The race is organised by the Sports authority of Cameroon - the Ministry of Sports and the Cameroon Athletics Federation with sponsorship principally from government coffers, supplemented with private funding and commercial adverts from major firms in the country. The majority of athletes are from Cameroon, with strong contingents from several African and European countries. Chinese, Korean and Canadian athletes featured prominently in the race.VIEW PHOTO ALBUM

Green economy is an idea whose time has come

By Achim Steiner   

One thing that is not in short supply is human ingenuity nationally and internationally.  In October last year UNEP launched its Global Green New Deal — a response to the immediate crises — and Green Economy initiative, a more medium- to long-term strategy. Both echo and support the agenda and direction of the new US administration —in that they both see the challenges but also opportunities through a national but also global lens.

Cameroun – FMI: Un nouveau programme économique en préparation

par Marc OMBOUI,

A la suite de la conclusion favorable de la dernière revue des performances économiques du Cameroun, le ministre des Finances, Lazare ESSIMI MENYE, a annoncé la préparation par les Camerounais eux-mêmes d’un nouveau programme économique. Ayant souffert des conditionnalités dictées par les bailleurs des fonds pour les programmes d’ajustement structurel auxquels le Cameroun a été soumis depuis 1988 pour sortir de la crise économique, nombre d’observateurs se demandaient si les relations avec le Fonds monétaire International allaient continuer suite à la conclusion du deuxième programme  signé avec cette institution dans le cadre de la Facilité pour la réduction de la pauvreté et pour la croissance (FRPC).

Cameroon Business Forum begins in Yaounde

By Bernard Ngwa

The Prime Minister of Cameroon has formerly opened deliberations of the Cameroon Business Forum. The Forum which has been organized under the theme “Doing Business” is, amongst other things, to examining the business climate with special focus on administrative bottlenecks that stifle efforts to set up small and medium sized enterprises in the country.

"Cameroon hydropower dam project on track" - Rio Tinto Alcan

By Tansa Musa

 Rio Tinto Alcan  projects in Cameroon remain on track and the company still aims to build a 1,000 megawatt hydroelectric dam to power a planned aluminium smelter there despite cutbacks elsewhere, it said.

The dam is to be built on the Sanaga River, some 165 km (103 miles) east of Cameroon's economic capital, Douala. It would power a smelter at Kribi, to the south, that would have an initial capacity of 400,000 tonnes of aluminium per year.

Afric Collection: Two-In-One Cameroonian Fashion Designers Emerge Winners

By Irene Zih Fon

Alex Wamba and Ecole ESDM, the Institution where the Fashion Designer trains, won the 2nd and 3rd prices at the “International Fashion Festival” held in Douala from February 2-8, 2009. This was during a competition run for fourteen young designers at the Festival, which brought together African designers including prominent ones like Pathéo of Burkina Fasso and Alphadi of Nigeria. Ivory Coast’s Patrick Asso grabbed the 1st Price.

Youths Told to Shun Job Hunting

By Irene Zih Fon

A resource person at the “Youth Employment Week” organised by the National Employment Fund(FNE) in Douala from February 4-9, 2009, has encouraged young people to think of earning a living through their creativity rather than by continual job searching. Week-long activities comprised debate-conferences on several themes, career profiles and educative talks on information and communication technology.