Ministers of Culture of the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, met recently in Yaounde to present a strategy document that is expected to promote culture and boost development in the sub-region.

The promotion of culture to boost development is expected contribute to the emergence of countries in the sub-region.

The strategy document, which was conceived in collaboration with UNESCO and La Francophonie, presents culture as a vector of social and economic growth. Aimed at guiding member states towards shaping their cultural policies, the document highlights culture as the cornerstone for development.

Welcoming the ECCAS dignitaries on October 30, Arts and Culture Minister, Ama Tutu Muna, said the meeting was an important follow-up to two others meetings held last year in Yaounde. According to her, the strategy document which is a consolidated result of the preliminary work developed by experts in November 2012 will help member states sell themselves and be visible to the world. At the forum, Ama Tutu Muna announced the second edition of the 2015 book fair.

She said the book fair will not only generate income but will give Cameroon the visibility it needs to help boost her social and economic sectors. Presenting the strategy document, the Secretary-General of ECCAS, Crispin Sangale Rondo, said it is the sub-region’s strategic tool for implementing cultural policies designed to expand growing cultural industries. To him, ECCAS’s decision to develop such a strategy stems from its primary mission.

“ECCAS’s primary mission is to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of programmes aimed at economic development of the various elements of culture in ECCAS member countries,” he said.

He explained that ECCAS recognises that culture is essential for social cohesion, peace and economic development of the states of Central Africa.

“The appointment of an Assistant Secretary General in charge of Culture, and the decision to develop a strategy to promote political and cultural industries in Central Africa, are part of this new vision,” he said.

The ECCAS SG said a fund of FCFA 250 million has already been mobilised for the implementation of the sub-regional strategy.The strategy document will be submitted for validation to ECCAS Heads of States, expected to meet next month in Chad.