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Cameroon: CDC GM Launches Another Multi-Billion Development Project


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The Post (Buea)

3 April 2008
Posted to the web 3 April 2008

Francis Tim Mbom

Barely two months after the General Manager, GM, of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, Henry Njalla Quan, flagged off a multi-billion oil palm project in the Boa Plains, Ndian Division, he was, on Wednesday, March 26, at the Matouke Rubber Estate, Moungo Subdivision, to launch, yet, another giant project to span five years.

"We are here, today, to launch the development of 6000 hectares of rubber plantations. Meaning that in the next five years we shall plant rubber equivalent to what is found today in Pendamboko, Matouke and Kompina," the GM stated.

By simple arithmetical calculation, the GM went on, "we shall in the next five years double the workforce in this area. CDC shall, definitely, extend the factory and everything that goes along with it."

CDC already has some 17,131 hectares of existing rubber farms with an annual average production of some 22,722 tons of rubber. But Njalla Quan, who was addressing a population of over 1,000 of his workers, chiefs and other dignitaries from Matouke and environs, said the project was not just aimed at the planting of more rubber tress as such, but "to provide development and economic benefits to Cameroonians in general and to CDC in particular."

The project by the close of five years, the GM said would have created, at least, some 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Biya's Urge, A Driving Force

Recalling President Biya's end-of-year speech, Njalla Quan said he was responding to the Head of State's urge to create opportunities for the youths; this being one of the propelling forces behind CDC's drive towards building a better corporation for the Cameroon of today and tomorrow.

Besides, in an earlier press briefing, Njalla Quan had said that the livelihoods of some thousands of Cameroonians, in the past, depended solely on CDC just as there other thousands today as well as thousands of other lives in future that hinge on CDC. For this reason, he said, it behoves on them to ensure its sustainability for today and beyond.

"CDC goes beyond just playing an economic role.

It plays the role of a developer. This means the CDC must not stagnate. That is why the management of the CDC thought it wise to put forth a five-year development plan called Plan 2012," said the GM.

Plan 2012

The CDC 2012 Plan is intended to carry out projects aimed at making life better for CDC. Included in the plan is a new oil mill to be established at Illoani in the Boa Plain Project area. Njalla said he was in Malaysia a few weeks ago to oversee the design of the mill. He said the contract would be signed in the days ahead.

The mill is expected to go operational by December, 2009. The mill would go in tandem with the planting of some 6,000 hectares of oil palms in Illoani.Still on the 2012 Plan, the CDC intends to build 2,000 new houses for its workers spread across the various estates.

This project, the GM said, is aimed at bettering the housing standards of a good lot of the corporation's labour force, for many of them are still leaving in houses built in the German colonial era, which do not meet up with today's recipes of comfort. It would be recalled that the CDC over a year ago began the provision of modern toilet facilities for its workers in the Limbe and Tiko areas. The above, among other earmarked benefits, is just a synopsis of the 2012 Plan.

CDC Financing

The CDC General Manager told the press that the CDC with proceeds generated by its 13,000 workers would finance the projects. He revealed that though CDC is state-owned it does not receive any subvention from the government. He added that CDC like any business venture in Cameroon pays is subjected to the same tax conditions as everyone else.

Prospects

Presenting the project, CDC Director of Plan and Development, Henry Becke, said feasibility studies carried out in 2006 showed that it was possible to carry out the project. Besides, he said climatic conditions as well as soil and other meteorological conditions had proven to be favourable.

On the market and economic front, he said natural rubber was the best selling alternative now, in the world market. He explained that the current world market hikes in the price of a barrel of crude oil, (raw material for synthetic rubber, a substitute to natural rubber), have concomitantly led to an increase in the cost of producing synthetic rubber.

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Becke said this situation has led to an increased demand for natural rubber equally necessitating an increase in its production and supply. "Natural rubber stocks declined in 2005 by 2.5 percent coupled with the low increase in production against an increase in the rate of consumption.

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Read comments. Write your own.

Author: mabb_mabiamanfred

Hi Brothers and sisters in Cameroon, i want to say thank you for giving me this opportunity to share in your collumn, about the hard work and effort displayed by the General Manager of CDC, Mr. Henry Njalla Quan.

My name is Manfred M. Basame from Brandon Florida, U.S.A. I'm a born Cameroonian but now residing in the United States of America since eigteen years now.

I want to congratulate the GM of CDC, for his tremendouse work that he has been doing with the the cooperation and to bring a better life to people of Bota-Limbe, Tiko, Ndian,... [Read Full Text]

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