The Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social economy and Handicrafts and the European Union has once more explored new horizons for support. In an audience granted by Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III to His Excellency Philippe VAN DAMME, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Cameroon, exchange between both parties was centered on reviewing critical areas of cooperation in the sector of SMEs as well as the technical and financial support provided by the European Union to strengthen actors in the private sector.
Speaking to the media, His Excellency Philippe VAN DAMME declared that SMEs form a majority of the private sector in Cameroon and are major engines to development. However, they face hurdles which the EU promised to support Cameroon in the search for reforms to curb these hurdles thereby ameliorating the Cameroon’s business climate.
The discussions were also to pledge the EU support in the organization of the upcoming days for cooperation and partnership slated for the 11th to the 13th of July 2021. This event will also serve as an opportunity to explore the various available cooperation instruments as well as the extent to which various partners, including the European Union, will continue to support SMEs, Social economy actors and craftsmen.
The audience also served as an occasion for MINPMEESA and the EU to discuss on how best the EU can support Cameroon in the development of an innovation centre which will be the first in sub Saharan Africa aimed at hosting laureates of international projects.
Worthy to note that this audience is a continuation of discussions initiated with H.E. Hans Peter SCHADECK, predecessor of His Excellency Philippe VAN DAMME, during audiences respectively on 29 May 2019 and 28 July 2020.
