Diversifying Cameroon's Economy: Vera Songwe Gives Suggestions

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The visiting Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa held talks with President Paul Biya at the State House on April 18, 2019 during which she was decorated with a Grand Officer of the Order of Valour Medal

Cameroonian-born Vera Songwe, Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, has saluted the resilience of Cameroon’s economy in the face of global challenges but believes the country could reap better fruits were she to maximize multiple opportunities especially in the field of digital economy. She spoke to the press on Thursday April 18, 2019 after holding talks with President Paul Biya at Unity Palace.

On the focus of the over one and half hour discussions, the UN Senior official disclosed that they spoke at length about the digital economy. She underscored that the digital economy today promises a lot of jobs for the youth and women. “We believe Cameroon can be a strong leader. We talked about Buea Mountain and all the innovations that are coming under the young kids from Buea that are now known worldwide.” Vera Songwe said.

On what could be done, she suggested, “Broadband needs to be faster in Cameroon, the cost of me gabits needs to be cheaper and many more people need to have access to the digital economy so that Cameroon can reach emergence. And I think the government is committed to work on the digital identity to ensure that every Cameroonian has an identity and can participate.” The visiting UN executive told the press that Cameroon’s economy is growing today at about 3.5 to 4 per cent but government needs to redouble efforts for the economy to grow at about 10 per cent if she wants to reach the kind of emergence being talked about. “We believe that Cameroon can. Cameroon is a diversified economy and so we can build on that. We were able to show to the Head of State the different areas in which Cameroon’s economy is competitive and can improve on its competitiveness,” she noted.

The Cameroonian-born used the audience granted her by President Paul Biya to also salute the Head of State and the government of Cameroon for hospitality shown the organisation (the UN Economic Commission for Africa has its headquarters in Yaounde) and for ensuring that the United Nations family globally is working in close collaboration with the sub region.

She said they also talked of the Continental Free Trade Agreement, a Signature African Agreement from the African Union as part of Agenda 2063 that ensures that no African country is left behind as the continent grows. She observed; “We believe that because Cameroon is such an important economy for Central Africa, when we look at t...

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