Diaspora News of Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Source: Cameroon Tribune

Entrepreneurs Trained on Business Creation

Over 45 entrepreneurs from across the globe have ended discussions on business creation and opportunities in business networking. The initiative dubbed "passing over the torch to a new generation", was within the framework of the 12th edition of the Kingdom Marketplace Transformation Forum that ran from October 11-13, 2012 in Limbe. Participants including entrepreneurs and students involved in business studies, received training on different biblical principles of creating businesses, developing business ideas for a successful economy and equally benefited from favourable networks with foreign businesses which will provide opportunities to the economic development of the country.

Presenting a paper on "Government and Business: What future," Kono Pauline, Deputy Mayor of the Limbe II Council, called on government to promote and protect future investors in the country by providing a favourable platform for foreign investors. For this to happen, she said there is high need for the government to step up actions to tackle fraud and corruption and also reinforce law and order that will enhance access of justice in investment and facilitate investment opportunities in the country. "There should be the creation of a national regulatory board to protect investors, sanctions on unscrupulous partners, the intensification of awareness on moral values and strengthening the anti-corruption unit," she said.

Like other speakers, the Board Chairman of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) Cameroon who doubles as the General Manager of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Ekoko Mukete, in his paper "The 21st century Africa", focused on the need for the world to think of the African continent anew. He asserted that Africa's potentials have been highly gnarled by poor leadership and suggested good education and core Christian values for good leadership requirements. Presenting a fact sheet of Africa's potentials, he revealed that seven African countries are among the 10 fastest growing economies in the world and the continent owns over 10 per cent of the world's oil reserve with over 80 to 90 per cent of chromium and platinum group metals. Other activities included roundtable discussions, workshops, networking and exhibition products like soap, works of arts and books.