Cameroon-China. Cameroon to Host Regional Office of International Bamboo Organisation
The headquarters agreement was signed last Sunday in Beijing, China on the side-lines of President Paul Biya’s visit to the Asian country where he and wife, Mrs Chantal Biya are taking part in the 3rd China-Africa Forum on the invitation of his Chinese counterpart.
Shawn-Nathan EPANG
Cameroon has once again recorded another diplomatic victory. The current stay of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Chantal Biya and a powerful delegation, is yielding fruits for the country. Apart from signing two very important accords with the Chinese authorities, Cameroon through the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella has penned another agreement to host the Headquarters of the International Organisation of Bambou and Rotins (INBAR) for the entire Central Africa region.
The signing ceremony of the Headquarters agreement took place at the premises of Cameroon Embassy in Beijing, China between the government of Cameroon and the Chief Executive Officer of INBAR, Dr Hans Friederich. Cameroon’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey and the Ambassador of Cameroon to the People’s Republic of China, Martin Mpana also attended the ceremony. While welcoming them to the embassy, the Ambassador indicated that the signing of the deal signals a new dawn for Cameroon and the INBAR.
The Director General of INBAR on his part, recalled the visit of the President of the Republic to the INBAR Head office during his last visit to China in March this year. The opening of the regional office, Dr Friederich noted, will go a long way to reinforce strategic partnership between Cameroon and the organisation. INBAR’s Director General reiterated that the signing of the agreement constitute business opportunities for Cameroon given its huge potential in bamboo. He announced that his organisation will lay emphasis on training, capacity building, research and investment.
On his part, the Minister of External Relations who signed for the government of Cameroon, the signing of the deal demonstrates Cameroon’s determination to deepen relations with International Bambou and Rotin Orgnaisation. This, he stated, will enable Cameroon and the rest of the central Africa sub-region to tap from its immense potentials of the resources. Lejeune Mbella Mbella also announced that the government will soon launch a project for the value added chain of these two non-timber forest products. Two strategic partners, notably the International Agriculture Development Fund and Global Environment Facility, are already working with the government towards realising the project.
The opening of the INBAR Regional office for central Africa in Cameroon, is an instruction of the Head of State, following his visit to the organisation in March while on an official State visit to China. Sources say bamboo can fetch over FCFA 11,300 billion in the world market with over 200 by-products that can be produced from it. Cameroon, it should be noted is endowed with enormous potentials of Bambou and Rotin found in almost every part of the country.
