Cameroon/Decentralization: a fair for economic actors and local development announced in Kribi

The event, which takes place from December 3 to 11, 2022, is aimed at decentralized local authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises, financial institutions, development partners, as well as public and parapublic sector companies.

According to the organizers, the Exhibition of Economic Actors and Local Development (Saedel) is considered as "the largest platform for exchanges between Regions, Urban Communities, Communes and various investors to ensure the attractiveness of decentralized local authorities in Cameroon.gions, Urban Communities, Communes and various investors in order to ensure the attractiveness of decentralized territorial communities in Cameroon. For its first edition, the city of Kribi was chosen to host the event: "Kribi, the seaside town is the future industrial hub of Cameroon. We expect the participation of large companies, public administrations, decentralized territorial communities and development partners to seize the tremendous business opportunities that this city offers.s business opportunities offered by this city in particular, and the decentralized territorial communities of our country in general, "said the organization.

Employers' groups, consular chambers and financial institutions are also among the 1,000 exhibitors and partners expected for this edition, which expects an attendance of more than 200,000 visitors. The program of the event includes public conferences and economic meetings. "The organization of conferences by the actors of the event will mobilize all stakeholders around a new vision of development of the Regions and Cameroon, raise awareness of the importance of the economic and social development of the country.The organization of the conferences by the actors of the event will make it possible to mobilize all the stakeholders around a new vision of development of the Regions and of Cameroon, to raise awareness on the given problems, to make emerge ideas, to debate on a current question in order to stimulate the change. Each region will have a televised public conference.

"The economic meetings at Saedel will be a unique moment of exchange between decentralized local authorities and national or foreign investors. They will mobilize more than 500 participants," we learn from Saedel.

Local brand award

Under Article 10 of the General Code of Decentralized Local Authorities of December 24, 2019, the latter "may, within the framework of their missions, carry out projects in partnership with them, with theThis legal permissiveness thus offers a possibility for the local authorities to carry out projects in partnership with the State, public establishments, public, parapublic and private sector companies, civil society organizations or external partners under the conditions and modalities set by the laws and regulations in force. This legal permissiveness thus offers a wide field of action to the 360 Town Halls, 14 Urban Communities and 10 Regional Councils, to establish partnerships, of which Saedel could be a catalyst. In his address to the youth on 10 February 2022, the President of the Republic mentioned a way of creating jobs through the action of these institutions of decentralization:"always in terms of jobs, huge efforts are made every year to create them and thus allow young people to integrate the world of work. Thus, thanks to the policy of promoting youth employment, included in the priority action plan for 2030, it is planned to create 600.This is why, thanks to the policy of promoting youth employment, included in the priority action plan for 2030, it is planned to create 600,000 jobs per year, with the involvement of the decentralized territorial authorities," said Paul Biya.

With respective budgets of 58.9 billion CFA francs, 3 billion CFA francs and 3.4 billion CFA francs, the Urban Community of Douala, the Regional Council of the Littoral and the City Council of Douala 1st have as decentralized local authorities of the Wouri and the Littoral, therefore, an ideal space to establish partnerships. Saedel 2022 is also an exhibition village with more than 500 stands (built to allow exhibitors to present their know-how, make new contacts and increase the visibility of their brands) and a "Carnival of the Regions", designed to promote Cameroonian culture. This first edition will also be the occasion to award the "Local Brand Prize". According to the organizers, one of the objectives of Saedel is to promote the development of regional brands and stimulate young entrepreneurs: "prizes will be awarded to local and regional brands," said.

Source: ecomatin.net/