Business

Cameroon on January 26, 2016 joined the rest of the world to observe the 64th World Customs Day. The event which took place at the Yaounde military Airbase in Mvan was placed on the theme; “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement”. Commemorative activities were chaired by the Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, in the company of the Director General of Customs, Fongod Edwin Nuvaga. The first phase of the event was dedicated to speech making, with Fongod Edwin Nuvaga highlighting the benefits of digitization to the customs sector. He cited the use of scanners at the Douala Seaport for an overview of the content of containers as a novelty that is paying off. The operationalisation of the Nexus+ Cameroon Customs GPS Project to trace the movement of goods and services within and without, the creation of an interactive website and the electronic payment of duties and taxes are some of the strategies that are catapulting Cameroon customs. 

Mobilising resources for the State as well as protecting the country’s environment especially at the borders and the business climate are some of the challenges of the Customs Department. The Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey called on the management of the department to redouble efforts. Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey said computerizing the customs sector was a commitment that must be taken seriously. He said the need to pursue the modernization of the administration was primary, with customs official expected to simplify procedures for business persons and all stakeholders of the sector. This is only achievable if services delivery is improved upon, said Finance Minister. He therefore urged the entire customs family to take advantage of the Information and Communication Technologies era to digitize, modernize and materialize the sector. “I believe that the challenge will be met given the dedication and commitment of the management,” said Alamine Ousmane Mey.

The entire customs family paid homage to some of their colleagues going on retirement. Gifts were handed to them. Some staff received certificates of honour from the International Customs Organisation. Other officers received certificates of excellence as recognition on their dedication to service. Over 500 graduates from the Advanced School of Administration and Magistracy received epaulets. Some 1, 000 Cameroonians all newly recruits into the corps also received epaulets. A military march past ended festivities at the Military Airbase.

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Ngwa Bertrand

28.Jan.2016

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Fishermen have resorted in using toxic products in order to fish more than usual while smoking units and individuals in the smoking sector also use materials like worn-out tyres and plastic containers to smoke fish which puts consumers at risk. The practice that is gaining grounds in some areas of Douala II is not without health hazards. Following the gravity of the situation, the Sub Divisional Delegate for Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry, Alain Ghomsi, led a delegation of sanitary inspectors on the field and began seizing fish so caught or treated and sensitising stakeholders on the effects. To him, consumption of such fish leads to tuberculoses and terminal diseases like cancer. Since the practice is mostly carried out by infiltrators without medical and veterinary certificates, Alain Ghomsi advised consumers to insist that vendors should present their certificates before purchasing both fresh and dry fish. In addition to the certificates, vendors must put on aprons or jackets not just to look good but also to prevent diseases from them to the product. 

To ensure quality control, the Divisional Delegate of MINEPIA for Wouri, Dr Mimbang Goy Iréne said additional staff were recruited to reinforce daily inspection on the field. They inspect smoking units to make sure that only wood from consumable fruit trees are used and not bad quality wood and materials like plastic, tyres and old dresses as it is the case with some vendors. The Divisional Delegate intimated that repressive measures will be meted on defaulters following the 2000 law regulating sanitary inspection. Implementing the law to the letter will entail slamming a two to six year jail term with hard labour and a fine between FCFA 50,000 and FCFA five million on perpetuators. Bad quality fish are recognised from the softness, smell, presence of maggots and when they attract flies. In three days, the operation that will run till the end of January, will led to the seizing and destroying of some 35 kg of bad quality fish.

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Jan.2016

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The Director General of Customs, Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, has saluted the Tiko Customs House for the strong potentials it has exhibited in its revenue collection. In 2009, Tiko Customs House raised FCFA 90 million. The tireless effort of the Tiko Customs House made it possible for the amount to increase progressively to FCFA 677 million in 2015. Fongod Edwin Nuvaga explained that if not of economic, health, security and other related concerns, the amount would have been more. “I therefore thank the working relationship that exists between the Customs Departments here and its partners that have made these achievements possible,” the Director General told his audience, adding that the Tiko Customs House symbolises the future of Customs in Cameroon. 

A modern facility, whose foundation was laid on May 18, 2015 at the Tiko Port, is an attractive warehouse which facilitates clearance. With this, the Director General of Customs said, FCFA one billion revenue collection was visible for the Tiko Custom House for 2016. He said the experiences of the Tiko Customs House will be tapped and extended to other Custom Houses in the country for veritable results. Celebrating the 64^th International Customs Day last Thursday, under the banner, “Promotion of the Custom activities: Digital Custom for progressive engagement,” hopes are high for more revenue collection as all facets like websites, smart phones and all Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will be exploited by the Customs family in Cameroon to increase revenue collection.

The host Mayor of the Tiko Council, Chief Moukondo Daniel Ngande, was at hand on behalf of his people to congratulate the Director General of Customs for his recent appointment. Sitting in for South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, the Inspector General, Haman Dairou, assured the Director General of Customs of the collaboration of other services for the Customs Department to achieve their set goals in the Region. Match past by Custom officials in strict military tradition, the Victoria Customs Cooperative Credit Union and an association of wives of Custom officials, graced the ceremony at the Tiko ceremonial ground which commenced in Limbe the previous day with sporting activities and visits to  many Custom Posts.

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Jan.2016

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Cameroon says it will create over 13,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs by 2025, ten years before the Emergence vision stated by President Biya. The information was released in Yaounde at the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training during an occasion effectuating a partnership accord signed between the Ministry and a rubber production company known in its French Acronym as SUDCAM. 

The partnership agreement was signed during a ceremony grouping the Minister of Vocational Training Zacharie Perevet, the president of GMS International, Director General of SUDCAM and the Inspector Genaral at the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training. According to the agreement, the SUDCAM company will have to invest over 430 billion FCFA by 2025. SUBCAM will also create a network of actors in the rubber cultivation sector.

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Ngwa Bertrand

26.Jan.2016

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The Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana has launched the 2015 - 2016 National coffee season of Cameroon in Ngoulmedouka in the East region of the country. The official launching ceremony which took place in one of the coffee production centers in the East region provided an opportunity for the Minister to announce government's ambitions to support farmers in boosting coffee production which is one of Cameroon's major export products. 

Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana said government has taken measures to put an end to the over a dozen years of stagnation in the coffee sector which culminated in a considerable drop in production. Farmers have been encourage to give proper care to their farms if they hope to benefit from the increase in the prices on coffee in the world market. The call came at a time when the national production of coffee has reduced by 27 percent within the last season. Coffee production went down to 23,865 tons far below the 32,808 tonnes produced during the previous seasons.

However, exports of coffee witnessed a slight increase of 8.24 perecnt during the 2014 - 2015 coffee season prompted by a Nationwide campaign organised by the Inter-Professional Cocoa and Coffee board.

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Ngwa Bertrand

26.Jan.2016

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The two aeroplanes of the MA60 mark, purchased by the Cameroon airlines company, CAMAIRCO have caressed the skies for the first time after having been officially certified by the national air safety agency. One of the planes which has been named Logone, took off from the Yaounde Nsimalen International airport at 11:50 am flying to Douala in an inaugural flight. The Minister of Transport, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o was amongst several dignitaries and passengers of the inaugural flight of the newest planes to be acquired by the national airliner. 

The ceremony to launch both aircrafts into air traffic marks a start for commercial activities for the planes that are generally expected to fly within Cameroon and the sub region. The Chinese made MA60 planes that have gone operational as part of the Cameroon Airlines Company are said to provide the same comfort and services like other planes. However, plane experts say it consumes lesser fuel that other types thereby rendering it profitable for the Cameroon Airlines Company that is badly in need of aircrafts to break even. It’s worth recalling that Cameroon’s defence forces have been using the same mark of plane without any hitches for a few years now.

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Ngwa Bertrand

24.Jan.2016

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