(Business in Cameroon) - It would seem that pressures on Cameroon's public treasury, resulting from the decrease in prices of commodities, paired with the effective implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement which aims to create a free trade zone with the European Union and also, the fight against Boko Haram, does not impair investments in the country much.

Indeed, according to the figures published by the ministry of finance in the framework of mid-term assessment of 2017's budget implementation, public investments have increased by 11% during the first semester of 2017, compared to its level in 2016. From CFA558.9 billion at the end of the first semester of 2016, public investments increased to CFA570 billion at the end of that same period in 2017. This is an increase of CFA12billion.

A brief analysis revealed that the rise is mainly due to the increase of Cameroon's public revenues. Public revenues increased during the first semester of 2017 by CFA160 billion compared to its level at that same period in 2016.  The ministry of finance explained that the revenues' increase is due to the improved repayment of the project and bank loans. These loans were destined to finance the three-year emergency plan that will expire in less than 3months.

Apart from the implementation of the three year's emergency plan budgeted at about CFA1.000 billion, Cameroon's government is finalizing first-generation infrastructure projects under the "grande réalisation" programme started in 2012. The government is also increasing its investment in sports infrastructures in preparation of 2019 AFCON that it intends to hold despite negative indicators from CAF.

Brice R. Mbodiam