Within the framework of an international coalition for the recognition of Social and Solidarity Economy as an inclusive development vector, the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts has taken part in a round table discussion on the 4th of March 2022 organised by the French government.
The meeting, which brought together numerous representatives of governments, international and non-governmental institutions and the civil society from Europe, Africa, America, Asia and from the Center Pierre Mendès-France, had as objective the establishment of an inventory of the States mobilized around the acknowledgement of the Social and Solidarity Economy and its legal and other frameworks through which it is promoted within each State.
The intervention of Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III during this round table discussion that took place in the form of a video conference was focused on the theme “The institutional recognition of the Social and Solidarity Economy: What challenges for active States? “. In the course of his intervention, the Minister once more confirmed Cameroon’s engagement in the sector of Social Economy as a contributing factor to Cameroon’s development. The achievements registered in relation to this sector were presented to the international community alongside some deep contributing dynamic aspects of Social and Solidarity Economy such the local networks of Social Economy which are vital in the economic development of Cameroon on the one hand as well as the network of Mayors and the parliamentary network in charge of Social Economy. He also made mention of the existence of a National program for the development of Social Economy while presenting the different phases of this program.
The moderator of this video conference Mr. François GAVE – Special Representative for Corporate Social Responsibility and of Globalization in the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on his part indicated that, the Cameroonian experience as concerns social Economy is innovative, enriching and attractive. He once more mentioned that the Cameroonian experience in this sector serves as an inspiration to other African states who are still at the early stages in the implementation of the Social and Solidarity Economy practice.
It should be recalled that the initiative for the recognition of the Social and Solidarity Economy as a vector of inclusive development was launched in 2019 by France under the label “PACT FOR IMPACT”.