Cameroon: Belgian companies to fund urban transport

Urban transport snags faced by Yaounde city dwellers might soon know an end as several Belgian companies are finalising deals with government to set up a modern mass urban passenger transport system in Yaounde and later in Douala. The revelation was made on January 29, 2016 by the outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Cameroon, His Excellency Jan de Bruyne, during a State dinner offered in his honour on behalf of the Head of State Paul Biya. The diplomat was concluding a second three-year mission as Ambassador to Cameroon after a first in 2000. 

The toast was an opportunity for the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, to laud the excellent relations harnessed between Belgium and Cameroon during Ambassador Bruyne’s sojourn in Cameroon. On the bilateral level, Cameroon and the Belfus Bank of Belgium signed a financing agreement worth FCFA 25 billion for a potable water supply project in 13 localities of Cameroon. In higher education, a visit by six Rectors of State-owned universities to Belgium in April 2014 and 34 Belgian scholarships for Cameroonian students were just the tip of the iceberg. “You were particularly attentive, not only to progress achieved in the consolidation of democracy, good governance, State of law but also security and humanitarian challenges that our country has been facing for a while,” Chief Dr Dion Ngute said.

He beckoned Ambassador Bruyne to convey President Biya’s satisfaction to His Majesty King Philippe I of Belgium. “Cameroon is engraved in my heart and I remain its advocate. I wish your country success as it strives towards emergence and pray that it remains a country of peace where several communities and religions co-exist,” he advised. He also said relations between both countries will focus on economic and trade ties to help Cameroon attain emergence. The Belgian diplomat was decorated with a medal of Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour to end the dinner that was attended by several members of government