By Joe Dinga Pefok
"The private sector continues to be 
hamstrung by a cumbersome bureaucracy, pervasive corruption, and a dilapidated infrastructure," stated the US Ambassador, Janet E. Garvey, while addressing Douala-based members of the American Chamber of Commerce, AmCham-Cameroon, at Parfait Garden Hotel recently.
Garvey asserted that without improvement in the aforementioned ugly situation, "Cameroon will not be able to generate the growth and employment it so badly needs."
She said she was aware that "many people are discouraged by the slow
pace of reforms in Cameroon." She expressed disenchantment at
Cameroon's position (154) in this year's World Bank's annual Doing
Business Report. She said she is equally disheartened that Cameroon
failed to improve in the 2007 Transparency International's corruption
perception index.
Optimism
Garvey, however, expressed optimism that despite the present state of affairs, there are still prospects for economic growth.Hear her: "With President Biya's September 7 cabinet reshuffle and his September 12 speech to the cabinet, in particular, I think, are evidences of the government's sincere desire to jumpstart the economy."
According to her, "the big test will be how well the entire government takes up this charge and how well the good words are turned into effective action."Garvey threw a punch at pessimists and cynics who believe that nothing will still change.
"The cynics will say that nothing has changed and that nothing will change. I believe they are wrong. We cannot sit by and accept that things will not change. The window of opportunity that was opened during the HIPC process remains open," she said.
The diplomat insisted that the US Embassy, AmCham-Cameroon, as well as the members of the group in their individual capacities, must strive to do everything possible to take advantage of the said window of opportunity. She also encouraged all the members of AmCham-Cameroon to strive to make the most of the group.
Furthermore, she said AmCham-Cameroon could be a truly powerful force for positive change and economic growth in the country. She said that the Cameroon government is presently seeking for ideas that can provide possible solutions to improve the business climate and spur more economic growth.
The diplomat opined that the chances of government to succeed in this
direction will depend in no small way on how well it is provided with
the necessary ideas and inputs.
"If an opening for economic growth has ever existed in Cameroon, this is it," the Ambassador told members of AmCham.
She went on to reiterate that the contribution and inputs by the US Embassy and AmCham to help Cameroon to improve her business climate and spur more economic growth, will remain one of her highest priorities during her stay in the country.
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