A workshop on infrastructural development opened yesterday in Yaounde. The seminar dwelt on processes for the integration of the private sector into the implementation of public infrastructure.

Present at the workshop were several members of the Government including the Minister of Economy, Planning and Spatial planning (Minepat), Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi. The workshop focused on "equipping projects managers with the requisite mechanisms in infrastructural development."

Indeed, "Cameroon is engaged in an important infrastructural development which requires the mobilization of significant financing. The Government alone, i.e. the public Treasury cannot mobilize these funds hence the private sector should be involved," explained the Minepat.

Thus, the workshop organized by Minepat, across the Board support for the execution of public-private partnership contracts (Carpa), is part of capacity building for public actors involved in the process of public procurement.

The goal is to allow a better appropriation of the concept of public-private partnerships, to intensify its action in the implementation of the projects of the State.

Gregor Binkert, Director of Operations of the World Bank for Cameroon, said, "all the World Bank groups were involved in this seminar to find solutions to finance infrastructure in Cameroon."

Public-private partnerships generally involve the transfer to the private partner of certain risks associated with the project with regard to its design, its construction, its management or its operation, its maintenance and its financing. This risk-sharing creates a more favorable cost-benefit balance.

In addition, it stimulates competition among candidates in the procurement and they can enjoy tax benefits. This type of partnership enables the State to mobilize available resources and assign them to the realization of the projects, as well as to encourage the mobilization of new sources of funding. The workshop however, ends with the adoption of a programme of action.