Minister Mbarga Atangana yesterday had a working session with five airline companies in Yaounde.

Airline companies operating in Cameroon have been urged to produce a comprehensive plan to integrate Cameroonian products in their menu. Meeting in Yaounde yesterday, the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana decried the absence of Cameroonian products in foreign and national airline companies using the country's airspace. "Cameroon has good quality products produced according to international standards and norms", Minister Mbarga Atangana told representatives of the five airline companies who participated in the meeting. "We have good quality mineral water, tea and coffee of international standards, pineapples and other fruits that can be fully integrated into your menu", he said.

The Minister of Trade could not understand why companies making good business in the country could afford to neglect the food and other products from that country. According to him, it would be cheaper for such companies to buy products on the spot than spend more money transporting products from one end to the other.

It was not the first time government was bringing up the idea. In October, 2007, airline companies operating in Cameroon were requested to propose a plan to that effect. Unfortunately, there was no response. Yesterday's meeting which witnessed the participation of about five airline companies, Swissair, Air France, Elysian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Bellview Air, is a veritable arena to consolidate government-private sector partnership, represented by the government of Cameroon on the one hand and the various airlines on the other.

From every indication, some of the companies are ready to adhere to the government proposal. "Soon, Cameroonian products will be part of these airline companies", Mbarga Atangana assured. That notwithstanding, the Minister of Trade will from time to time organise a promotion campaign in collaboration with the airline companies to ensure the effective penetration of the whole philosophy.