(Business in Cameroon) - Amid current business uncertainties due to the crisis in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, the national inter-employers’ group (Gicam) suggests that the country boosts businesses in unaffected regions to offset economic losses. This was indicated in a report issued August on the unrest’s economic impact.

Therefore, the group said, the implementation of growth objectives agreed with international partners now depends on the country’s ability to control the spread of the crisis' impact and bolster higher economic activity in other regions.  

Under this move, special commodity import authorizations should be granted to industries that face issues in accessing the regions plagued by violence since October 2017, including local cocoa processing units.

Furthermore, Gicam recommends putting efforts towards preserving the organization of the 2019 AFCON amid this insecurity while mainstreaming local businesses in the event preparation. As well, the government should introduce a tax break and prevent the 2019 Finance Act from imposing additional tax constraints and pressures for companies. Besides, it must plan specific incentives to enable companies in the most affected sectors to speed up redeployment to safer regions.

“The post-crisis phase will require a real Marshall Plan for an economic upswing in the North-West and South-West regions,” Gicam warned.

S.A