Construction and equipping of a UN military station in Central African Republic will soon begin.

The business community in Cameroon has been given directives on the contract procedure and opportunities with the United Nations Organisation. A knowledge building seminar planned by the UN in collaboration with the government took place at the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) in Douala August 30.

The objective of the seminar, attended by business people from across the country, was to transfer knowledge on the procedures of securing contracts with the United Nations, encourage the registration of Cameroonian enterprises on UN data in order to enable the country benefit from UN shared benefits.

Spurred by the fact that local enterprises will be needed, through contracts, to construct and equip the UN station which will be set up soon in the Central African Republic, the seminar, according to the Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the United Nations, Tommo Monthe, was to help local enterprises to be involved in order to create jobs and enhance local economic growth.

He encouraged them to register their enterprises with the UN now given that the budget will be voted this October. For the station to go operational, it will need among others 2,586 vehicles, 330,000 computers, 200 aircrafts, millions of litres of fuel and water to buy, buildings, tons of foodstuff to buy for soldiers, 12,000 people, including 10,000 soldiers will be deployed and will need food. All these, he said, will be provided through contracts.

During her presentation titled “Understanding the procedure of UN purchases”, Cameroonian-born Doudou Nyazoke of the Purchase Division of the UN Secretariat, encouraged the business people to be upbeat and register their enterprises, noting that the procedures are easy and selection transparent. It was disclosed that only seven Cameroonian enterprises have registered the UN, one is already furnishing petroleum products to one of UN agencies in Africa.

In his opening remarks, the President of CCIMA, Christophe Eken, lauded the fruitful cooperation between the UN and the Cameroon business community. He highlighted the fact that the government of Cameroon and the UNO are in a spirit of mutual benefit.