Lukong Pius Nyuylime
14 March 2008
Two days did not seem to be enough to screen the results of the study on the role of the role of primary products in the socio-economic development of the central African sub-region which members of the Ad hoc committee worked on from 11 to 12 March.
Being one of the major issues to be tackled during the upcoming conference of ministers in charge of the economy and development, the screening exercise had to be continued, this time by a battery of economic experts in the Central African sub-region or better still, the Economic Commission for central African States (ECCAS). Member countries of ECCAS include the six members of CEMAC and Angola, Burundi and Sao Tomé and Principe.
For two days running therefore, the experts will work on the subject and tackle other issues to be handled by the ministers of the sub-region. These include: the economic evolution of Central Africa 2006-2007 and forecast for 2008, evolution of democratic and social indicators of Central Africa, the level of integration, the role of primary products in the socioeconomic development of the sub-region and implementation of the regional and international agenda including NEPAD and MDGs. The experts will equally assess the work programme of the Economic Commission for Africa Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, specific issues to be identified for the ECA programme and choose the theme for the next meeting of expert committee.
In his speech while presiding at the opening ceremony yesterday, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze underscored the challenges awaiting the sub-region in the face of too much dependence on primary commodity for exports. "The fact that our economies depend so much on the exportation of primary commodity, obliges us to formulate a political, social and economic framework which takes into consideration long term impact on development", Motaze said.
MINEPAT boss proposed two main measures to get out of the blockage: the creation of conditions to diversify and promote industrialisation and the creation of enabling conditions for primary products to contribute positively to development.
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