“Our Relationship Can Be Developed In Many Areas”

Your Excellency, what brought you to the Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation, SOPECAM?

Since arriving in Cameroon in September 2019, I wanted to know more about SOPECAM so that its relationship with the Indian government can be strengthened. Given the importance of Cameroon, the Indian Government has decided to open a High Commission in Yaounde so that relations between the two countries can grow. I hope Cameroon will also be able to establish its High Commission in India soon so that there could be more trade and people-to-people exchanges.

What areas of bilateral cooperation do you plan to work on?

Since my arrival, I have found out that many Cameroonians do not know much about India. I will certainly like Cameroonians to know (through SOPECAM) how much India has developed in terms of science and technology and its relations with other countries. Even during COVID-19, Prime Minister Modi has continued to have virtual summits with world leaders and participated in summits like the European Union and addressed United Nations bodies like ECOSOC, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

India has developed tremendously after independence. There was a time India could not produce anything and used to import everything, even rice and wheat. But the country now produces even aircrafts and exports rice, wheat and milk, despite having a population of almost 1.3 billion people. We are not only self- sufficient in these items, but we also export them. Cameroon has indicated its interest to import rice from India. We are ready to assist Cameroon in this regard. 

You mentioned the need for Cameroonians to know more about India. How do you intend to achieve this?

India-Cameroon relations are currently very good, but we will like it to be at a higher pedestal in every respect; especially in terms of political, trade, economy, culture, people-to-people contacts, etc. With COVID-19 still on, there are no visits from both sides. But India is planning to organise the Africa Summit later this year and will like to see Cameroon represented at the highest level.

What about bilateral cooperation in the economi...