Amsterdam — A high-level MSI delegation visited the Republic of Chad in early July and met with officials and local partners in Ndjamena, the capital, and other cities. This visit was aimed at fostering the solid relations between MSI-Celtel and the Republic of Chad.
The visit coincided with the inauguration ceremony of the new Minister for Post and Telecommunications, Mr. Mahamat Baradine, following a recent cabinet reshuffle. The MSI delegation, led by Emmanuel Kolade, Director External Relations, attended the event. Other members of the delegation were members of Celtel Tchad; Raymond Laforce, newly appointed Managing Director, Adel Alaya, Finance Director, Abbas Souleymane, Human Resources Director, Lucas Mahoukou, Technical Director and Joel Mbaibarem, Public Affairs Director.
The highly colourful event was also attended by the heads of many major local companies from various sectors, as well as representatives of the Ministry. It provided an opportunity for the new Minister to present his 'vision' for the telecommunications industry in Chad. Mr. Baradine is a specialist in telecommunications and, prior to his nomination, occupied the position of Director of the Telecommunications regulatory Agency.
Apart from this ceremony, the MSI delegation had other important meetings with the Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nagoum Yamassoum, the Minister of National Territory, Mr. Routouang Yoma Golom, the Former Minister of PTT, Mr Hassan Salim and now Advisor on Transports and Telecommunications for the President. There were also meetings with representatives of the Ndjamena Municipality. The delegation, which travelled in the hinterland, went to Moundou, 700 kms South of the capital where important discussions were held with the Governor, Mr Mahamat Bechir Cherif, and the Mayor, Mr. Nékissel Aoudou Jeremy, a strong proponent for the development of the telecommunications industry in order to open up the city. The new Celtel Tchad MD promised to establish a commercial office in Moundou in the near future.
This is another indication of MSI's long-term commitment to Tchad, a country where MSI had already invested in a high-level telecommunications network even before oil was discovered.