(Business in Cameroon) - Limited container inspections, removal of goods (from ship to truck) to avoid storage, VAT exoneration, house inspection, cancellation of penalties for late collection. Here are some of the measures that the Cameroonian Customs Authorities have taken to facilitate clearance of equipment imported as part of the construction of sports infrastructure project for 2016 and 2019 AFCON, or projects that are part of the 2015-2017 three-year Emergency Plan.

The issue is, through the above-mentioned measures, to contribute to speeding up these projects, by taking into account delays in their respective timetables. For example, half way through the three-year Emergency Plan, which has a total envelope of FCfa 925 billion, its social housing construction component has not started, while technical equipment to rehabilitate certain hospitals is still awaited.

Concerning the organisation of the 2016 and 2019 AFCON, work has also stalled. The most striking example is the project to rehabilitate the multi-purpose annex Yaoundé stadiums and the military stadium of the capital, whose contract awarded to the Chinese company Sinohydro was cancelled in February 2016, nine months from the start of the Africa Women Cup of Nations beginning next November. The reason for this contract cancellation, the government reveals, three months after the start of the work scheduled to be carried out in eight months: Sinohydro had only completed 5% of the job. The measures taken by customs, which also entail having all customs agents available at all times, seem highly appreciated by economic operators involved in the Emergency Plan and the 2016 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, to the point where certain wish the measures are mainstreamed from now on; in order to make the hub port of Douala more competitive.

BRM