Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YAOUNDE1342
2007-11-08 16:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:  

CAMEROON: PM ON INVESTMENT, PRIVATIZATION, AFRICOM

Tags:  CM EAIR ECON MASS PREL PINR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1791
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #1342 3121634
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081634Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8306
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE 0034
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001342 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CM EAIR ECON MASS PREL PINR
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: PM ON INVESTMENT, PRIVATIZATION, AFRICOM

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001342

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CM EAIR ECON MASS PREL PINR
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: PM ON INVESTMENT, PRIVATIZATION, AFRICOM


1. (SBU) Summary: In a November 1 meeting with the
Ambassador, Cameroon Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni said CAMAIR
was being retendered, while the privatization of CAMTEL was
pending due to changes in the tender documents. He hoped to
streamline a multitude of investment promotion initiatives
and noted that participants in a recent meeting of Central
African leaders were open to Africom but reached no consensus
position. End summary.

Privatization
=============


2. (U) The GRC hopes to recruit a consultant by the middle
of November to help carry out a tendering process for CAMAIR.
The government hopes to identify a strategic partner that
will have a 51 percent share of the company, with the
remainder in government hands. If there is a good response
to the tendering process, a partner could be in place within
six months, he said. The GRC still plans to privatize CAMTEL
but the tender documents need to be adjusted because they
included fiber optic and pipeline infrastructure that did not
belong to CAMTEL

Investment Council
==================


3. (U) Inoni saw the need to coordinate and to some extent
merge multiple investment bodies, such as separate investment
initiatives by the Commonwealth and World Bank. He also saw
the need to staff the PM's Investment Council, which
currently has no staff to implement decisions.

AFRICOM
=======


4. (SBU) Inoni thought Africom "makes sense" and noted that
he was recently in Brazzaville for a Central African meeting
at which Africom was discussed. Central African countries
were open to participation in Africom, were not opposed to
it, but had no common position, Inoni said. Other countries
did not have the same level of information about Africom as
Cameroon, he said, noting that it would be good to further
sensitize countries in the region. The Ambassador agreed
that it was important for Africom to be done right and she
welcomed this kind of regional consultation.


5. (SBU) Comment: The privatization of CAMAIR and CAMTEL
appear to be making little progress. The PM seems serious
about making something useful out of the Investment Council,
which has held several meetings and is consulting with the
private sector. Envisioned as a consultative body, the
Council is in its early stages but could help give policy
direction to the government's stated desire to improve the
investment climate.
GARVEY