International Economic Days for Councils : Second Edition Opens Today

The second edition of the International Economic Days for Councils, best known by its French acronym JEICOM opens today in Yaounde. Organised by the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon, the platform brings together Councils and City Councils of Cameroon as well as foreign partners who will exhibit their potentials, source finances and talk local development. Some 27 foreign countries have already confirmed their participation, amongst them France with about 60 enterprises. The economic forum which runs till June 3, 2023 has food security as the main thematic area. However, several exchanges and negotiations of different themes that have a direct link to communal development will be discussed. Each participant will exhibit their various potentials and seek funding for the development of such potentials to the benefit of the population.   
The stakes of this economic forum are clear; get development partners for the community. This can either be through direct funding, transfer of technology or exchange of ideas through capacity building. These are expected to be concretely implemented for the harmonious and inclusive growth of communities. 
Government’s National Development Strategy (NDS30) programme and its decentralisation policy highlight a bottom-top approach to some development issues. Councils are decentralised authorities and using some economic forums to get project funders is a square peg in a square hole. Spinoffs from such a get-together abound and the expectations of the population are high. 
Partnership accords and Memorandums of Understandings will be signed. Some investors will make funds available depending on the projects presented. The population wants to see concrete change. Money sourced should be used for the designated purposes. Take for example, the construction of a market in a municipality. Revenue will be generated by the Council from renting out shops and other market taxes. The multiplier effect is that the money generated ...