The Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, Stefano Pontesilli has announced the imminent construction in Douala of a world trade centre and hotel. Talking to Cameroon Tribune last Saturday June 2, 2012 in Yaounde at a reception to mark the 66th anniversary of Italy's National Day, the Ambassador said funding for the projects was being sourced for them to take off.

Concerning other areas of investments in the country, he said Italian firms also had plans to set up an Iveco industrial machines assembly plant, a steel rolling mill as well as using biomass to produce electricity.

Italy's current investments in the country span the production of sweets and chocolates, logging, transport, construction of research centre for upgrading the genetic quality of locally produced livestock, to the construction and equipment of the Cardiac Centre in Shisong, Kumbo in the North West Region. Italian and Cameroonian specialists carry out open heart surgery on children in the centre - the only one of its kind in the whole of West and Central Africa.

Earlier in his speech, Stefano described Cameroon as a young and progressive democracy, adding that the level of governance and respect for human rights in the country was good. He promised that Italy and Europe will always stand by Cameroon in its development march.

On Africa, he said Italy's Foreign Minister, Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant'Agata recently concluded a visit to Mozambique, expressing hope that his next tour of Africa will include Cameroon. The Ambassador also highlighted the challenges posed by international terrorism and the rise of religious fundamentalism as hindrances to development. According to him, the 21st Century should be Africa's to make strides, saying his country and the European Union were already assisting the continent in this light. He therefore called on the African Union to remove barriers to trade.