Private Sector : Support Committee Evaluates Path Covered

Members of the Competitiveness Support Facility for Cameroon (DACC) in their 6th steering committee session that took place in Douala on Friday, October 21 deliberated on implementing the financial aspect of DACC which includes the funding of companies supported by DACC over European Investment Bank funds as well as projects concerned by the Integrated Programme for the Valorisation and Transformation of Agricultural and Agri-Food Products (TRANSFAGRI). The steering committee meeting was also aimed at evaluating the activities of DACC so far.
According to the team lead of the Economic Affairs, Private Sector and Regional Integration of DACC, Patrick Illing, the first component of DACC provided technical (non-financial) support to businesses and intermediary organisations. So far, he went on, sixteen (16) intermediary organisations and about forty businesses have already been supported by DACC. The supported sectors include, hotel and tourism industry, the leather sector, the agri-food industry, as well as the cosmetics and printing industries. He further explained that initially, the support was specifically geared towards intermediary organisations (development of their strategic plans, creation of their websites, good practice guides for all the companies of a sector or industry, training for their officers).
Patrick Illing added that the second phase is a turning point as they will be involved in the orientation of the programme and work with the local banks for financial support. He said the European Investment Bank will be offering €27million euro which will work with...