Business

On December 17, 2017, through a joint statement, Thalès and Gemalto announced a strategic merger agreement aimed at creating "the world leader in digital security".

“The acquisition of Gemalto marks a key milestone in the implementation of Thalès’s strategy. Together with Gemalto’s management, we have big ambitions based on a shared vision of the digital transformation of our industries and customers. Our project will be beneficial to innovation and employment, whilst respecting sovereign strategic technologies”, commented Patrice Caine, Thalès’ Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. 

This agreement, which let Thalès group retake control of the contract of computerized national ID cards and resident permits (that Gemalto is actually commissioned to manufacture), will be completed in Q2 2018.  

Indeed, for ten years, Thalès has produced National ID cards for Cameroonians, in the framework of the SENAC (Système de sécurité de la nationalité Camerounaise), a project steered by the country's police. On December 31, 2014, Thalès was notified of the government's decision not to renew their contract for the SENAC. This was through a letter from the current Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguélé.

At the time its contract was terminated, the French company demanded the Cameroonian State a payment of a debt amounting to around CFA4 billion. According to our sources, the two parties were able to find an amicable solution after many negotiations. It was then expected that the Spanish company Indra, known to be close to Martin Mbarga Nguélé, would replace Thalés.

But, talks between Indra and Cameroon’s government were finally halted and on n July 31, 2015, the contract, which is worth billions of CFA, was awarded to Gemalto which has just been acquired by Thalès.  This thus consecrates Thalès’ return on the contract of secured national ID cards. However, it is said that Gemalto will continue “operating its own brand”.

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Rita Akana

19.Dec.2017

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Basile Atangana Kouna, Cameroon’s minister of water and energy, while reporting his activities to the Senate on December 12, 2017, revealed that the country turned to imports in 2017, to overcome the production deficit of the national refinery company (SONARA).

The minister indicated that Cameroon has imported overall 618,833 m3 of oil products, knowingly, 286,400 m3 of super, 246,000 m3 of gasoline, 63, 535 m3 of DPK (Dual Purpose Kerosene), 6,257 m3 of fuel 1500 and 16,641 m3 of fuel 3500. He explained that 78% of the products were imported by SONARA on the instructions of the presidency.

Between January and September 2017, 71,070 metric tons of domestic gas have been imported; this out of an average total annual quantity of domestic gas’ imports of 90,000 metric tons. This therefore represents a 79% achievement rate over the period. “All the measures have been taken by the ministry of energy and water, in collaboration with organizations and companies under its jurisdiction, to ensure the availability of domestic gas and fuel at the pump, enough to spend the New Year period peacefully”, Basile Atangana Kouna said.

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Rita Akana

14.Dec.2017

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On December 4, 2017, Jean Claude Mbwentchou, Cameroon’s minister of housing (MINHDU) received Tang Lezhen, General manager of China Shenyang International Economic & Technical Cooperation Corporation Limited (CSYIC), the company commissioned to build 3,200 social houses in Cameroon.

The Chinese official said 1,520 houses will be sold in 2018. About the second phase of the project for the 3,200 houses (which could increase to 3,400 according to the MINHDU), Tang Lezhen explained that the technical details are already discussed with the project manager and, it will focus on three house types: high-standing, medium-standard and social housing units.

“Jean Claude Mbwentchou explained that because Eximbank China which funded the first phase does not want to finance the second, talks are ongoing with commercial banks in this regard”. However, he disclosed neither the commercial banks involved nor the amount sought by government.

Let it be recalled that it was on May 18, 2016, that Jean-Claude Mbwentchou signed a partnership agreement for the construction of 3,200 social houses in Cameroon with the managers of Shenyang.  

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Rita Akana

12.Dec.2017

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The board of directors of the African development bank (AfDB) through its section in charge of the private sector has approved a senior loan of EUR150 million to finance the construction of the Nachtigal dam (whose generating capacity is 400MW) in Cameroon. The loan was approved on November 28, 2017, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.  

 According to AfDB, this “intervention responds to the urgent need to build additional production capacity that would make a major impact in accelerating the country development”. Moreover, this financing complements the one already consented in favor of Cameroon's electricity sector (Eneo,  Kribi, Dibamba, Lom Pangar and Preretd projects which are projects to strengthen and extend electricity transmission networks). It also demonstrates AfDB’s strong commitment to Cameroon’s energy sector.

Nachtigal will come online in 2022, increasing the country’s power output by 30% and also help lower the cost of electricity in the long term.

This approval falls in line with the bank’s initiatives to promote renewable energies whose share in power mix increased from 14% between 2007 and 2011 to 70% between 2012 and 2017.

The 420 MW hydroelectric power plant,  jointly designed and developed by Cameroon, EDF International-Electricité de France, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is an essential component of Cameroon’s Power Development National Plan and as such was recognized as a key priority for the country.

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Rita Akana

06.Dec.2017

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During his exposé of Cameroon’s social and economic program for 2018, Philémon Yang, the country’s prime minister, made a retrospective evaluation of the employment sector.

Indeed, he said that the country has promoted decent employment in 2017 by creating 398,046 new jobs. "This was achieved thanks to the different opportunities provided by the civil service, defense and security forces, the decentralized territorial units, the implementation of the three-year emergency plan to accelerate economic growth, governmental projects and programs and labor tracking in major construction projects such as the sites for AFCON 2019,” Philémon Yang said.

The minister also mentioned the effective launch of Limbé, Douala and Sangmelina’s centers of vocational excellence to promote vocational training which will lead to more jobs. He also mentioned the construction of the national institute to form trainers and the extension of programs funded by Koreans in Yaoundé. Philémon Yang also talked about the completion of the Nkongsamba vocational training center (which results from cooperation with Austria) and the provision of 30 Moroccan and 19 Algerian scholarships to young Cameroonians.

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Rita Akana

06.Dec.2017

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Last week, the Cameroonian Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications launched a call for IT proposals for SUP’PTIC Business Academy in Yaoundé. The submission period began September 11^th and will run until September 25^th. Some twenty spots are available.

From Jean Marie Dongo’s, managing director of SUP’PTIC, explanations, a panel will select the best proposals this year. “The selected bidders will benefit from tailored support to reinforce their management and help them look for funding. By the end of the incubation period, the eight best projects will receive a FCFA1O million individual funding for their implementation”.

This sum will be taken out of the special allocation of CFA150 million allocated to the business incubator by the ministry of SMEs, Craftsmanship and Social Affairs (MINPMEESA).

For the remaining twelve projects incubated by SUP’PTIC Business Academy, Jean Marie Dongo indicated that it will be made so that financing needed for their realization is secured, from public and private partners like the SME Bank.

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Rita Akana

21.Sep.2017

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