Yaounde, 16 December 2024
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF STATE OF CEMAC
CLOSING SPEECH BY H.E. PAUL BIYA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON
- Fellow Presidents, My Dear Brothers,
- The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund,
- The President of the World Bank Group,
- The President of the African Development Bank Group,
- The Chairperson of the CEMAC Commission,
- The French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry,
This Extraordinary Session of the CEMAC Conference of Heads of State was convened to seek appropriate solutions to the economic and financial challenges currently facing our sub-region.
As we must have noted from the presentations delivered and from our discussions, some adjustment measures must be urgently implemented in our various countries.
I am convinced that today’s meeting has afforded us an opportunity to size up the magnitude of the challenges which together we must address, with a view to averting an economic and financial crisis with potentially devastating effects on our States.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and France, our long-standing partner, for always sparing no effort to lend us the requisite support during challenging times.
Going forward, all that remains to be done is to resolutely implement the recommendations of this Summit. It is absolutely clear that today’s meeting will yield the expected outcomes only if it is followed by concrete actions.
As already noted previously, we must further diversify our economies, fast- track structural reforms in terms of governance, fiscal discipline, improving the business climate as well as deepening regional integration.
- Fellow Presidents, My Dear Brothers,
In this particularly challenging context, our Community is an asset we must preserve and strengthen. It is only through concerted actions that we will be able to overcome the current challenges and secure better economic and social prospects for our States and our peoples.
Therefore, I am optimistic about our common future.
As we conclude the proceedings of this Extraordinary session of the CEMAC Heads of State Conference, I would like to thank you all for your active participation, and wish you a safe return to your respective countries.
Thank you for your kind attention.