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PRESS/TPRB/170
20 July 2001
(01-3625)
ENHANCED PARTICIPATION IN THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM
CAN HELP CAMEROON'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Cameroon's greater participation in the multilateral trading system could help the country
improve its economic development and provide a more secure environment to attract foreign
investment. But the country also needs to improve its infrastructure and diversify its exports,
according to a WTO report on the trade practices and policies of Cameroon.
The WTO Secretariat report, along with the policy statement by the Government of
Cameroon, sill serve as a basis for the second trade policy review of Cameroon by the Trade Policy
Review Body of the WTO on 18 and 20 July 2001.
The report notes that Cameroon is recovering slowly from a prolonged depression which
lasted until 1995. The improved performance is due mainly to the implementation of structural
reforms (economic liberalization and privatization) as well as favourable external events. Structuralreforms have focused on the privatization of state monopolies and price liberalization to allow market
forces to allocate resources.  In this context, the Government sees trade liberalization as integral to its
efforts in modernizing the economy. Trade policy objectives continue to be oriented towards a more
open trade regime, and increasing market access for Cameroon's exports.
Despite its recent improved growth, Cameroon still suffers from widespread poverty,
deterioration in the education and health systems, and weaknesses in governance, says the report.
Agriculture and forestry are the main contributors to GDP, with the petroleum sector also of
considerable importance to the economy.  Cameroon's exports are dominated by petroleum and
petroleum products.  Other important export items include cocoa (notably beans), coffee, aluminium,
and lumber.  Manufactured products dominate imports. The European Union (EU) continues to be thedominant market for exports (accounting for around 66% of merchandise exports in 1999/00) as well
as the main source of imports (50%).PRESS/TPRB/170
Page 2
MORECameroon is a founding Member of the WTO and grants at least MFN treatment to all its
trading partners. Cameroon holds observer status in the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft; in
mid-2001, Cameroon will become an observer to the Agreement on Government Procurement.  As a
developing country, Cameroon used transition periods to implement a number of commitments under
various WTO Agreements.  The authorities have expressed concerns about Cameroon's
implementation of the Agreements owing to a lack of information and training.  Most of Cameroon'sannual notification requirements under the WTO Agreements are yet to be fulfilled.  Enhanced
technical assistance efforts by WTO Members and the Secretariat could greatly facilitate Cameroon's
further integration in the multilateral trading system.  Cameroon's trade policies and practices are, to a
large extent, determined regionally under CEMAC (Communauté économique et monetaire de
l'Afrique centrale), which also includes the Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea,
Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
Cameroon's main trade policy instrument is the ta riff. All applied tariffs are ad valorem, and
there are no seasonal or variable rates, adding to the transparency of the regime.  The simple average
applied MFN tariff was 18.3% in 2000, slightly lower than the prevailing average at the time of the
last Review.  As a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations, Cameroon bound all its agricultural
(WTO definition) tariff lines at a ceiling rate of 80%, while only three tariff rates levied on non-
agricultural products were bound.  The bound tariff rates are substantially higher than the appliedrates;  closing this gap would further improve predictability of the tariff regime.
The report also notes that agriculture and forestry remain Cameroon's leading economic
activities, accounting for more than 40% of GDP and providing employment for about 60% of the
population. The agriculture sector has undergone thor ough reform since 1994: quantitative restrictions
on imports and exports have been removed, and most parastatals have been privatized.  There havealso been some reforms in forestry; however, export restrictions and taxes still apply to some forestry
products.  Export taxes on other agricultural products, including cocoa, coffee, cotton, sugar, and
palm oil, were removed recently.
The Government sees the development of the agriculture sector as the best means for
reducing poverty in Cameroon and stimulating economic growth.  It is determined to further liberalize
the sector, including through privatization.  Its strategy is to improve the sector's competitiveness and
enhance factor productivity, with a view to strength ening growth and increasing farmers' income.  The
Government's efforts are also aimed at diversifying domestic production and promoting export
diversification.  The average MFN tariff levied on agriculture (WTO definition) is 22.5%.
The services sector contributes some 40% of GDP. Cameroon has eliminated most of its
previous restrictions on trade in services.  Remaining restrictions are limited to the so-called strategic
services, such as water distribution, electricity, public transportation, and telecommunications.  The
performance of the services sector has been poor, and lack of efficiency has impeded the development
of other sectors.
The Cameroonian authorities are committed to continuing structural reform, with a view to
stimulating private investment, enhancing competition and efficiency, and lowering costs, thus
facilitating the efficient allocation of resources, reflecting Cameroon's comparative advantages, andimproving economic growth.  In order to attain sustainable poverty reduction, Cameroon needs to
register high economic growth rates, significantly improve efficiency in public expenditure, and
strengthen governance.  Further efforts are needed  to continue the development of the physical and
services infrastructure of the economy, as well as to improve the human capital base, to overcome the
constraints that weaknesses in these areas impose on development efforts.  By improving the level ofits multilateral commitments, Cameroon could create confidence in the irreversibility of its reforms
and render them more credible, thus improving its ability to attract the needed foreign investment.PRESS/TPRB/170
Page 3
MORECameroon's trading partners can assist its reform efforts by ensuring stable, increased access to their
markets, in particular for products of export interest to Cameroon.
Note to Editors
Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member
countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significantdevelopments which may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. For each
review, two documents are prepared: a policy stat ement by the government of the member under
review, and a detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat. These two documents are
then discussed by the WTO’s full membership in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB). These
documents and the proceedings of the TPRB’s meetings are published shortly afterwards. Since 1995,
when the WTO came into force, services and trade- related aspects of intellectual property rights have
also been covered.
For this review, the WTO’s Secretariat report, together with a policy statement prepared by
the Government of Cameroon, will be discussed by the Trade Policy Review Body on 18 and 20 July
2001. The Secretariat report covers the development of all aspects of Cameroon's trade policies,
including domestic laws and regulations, the institutional framework, trade policies by measure andby sector.
Attached to this press release is a summary of the observations in the Secretariat report and
parts of the government policy statement. The Secretariat report and the government's policy
statement are available for the press in the newsroom of the WTO internet site (www.wto.org). Thesetwo documents and the minutes of the TPRB’s disc ussion and the Chairman’s summing up, will be
published in hardback in due course and will be available from the Secretariat, Centre William
Rappard, 154 rue de Lausanne, 1211 Geneva 21.
Since December 1989, the following reports have been completed: Argentina (1992 and
1999), Australia (1989, 1994 and 1998), Austria (19 92), Bahrain (2000) Bangladesh (1992 and 2000),
Benin (1997), Bolivia (1993 and 1999), Botswa na (1998), Brazil (1992, 1996 and 2000), Brunei
Darussalam (2001), Burkina Faso (1998), Cameroon (1995 and 2001), Canada (1990, 1992, 1994,
1996, 1998 and 2000), Chile (1991 and 1997), Colombia (1990 and 1996), Costa Rica (1995 and
2001), Côte d’Ivoire (1995), Cyprus (1997), the Czech Republic (1996), the Dominican Republic
(1996), Egypt (1992 and 1999), El Salvador (1996), the European Communities (1991, 1993, 1995,
1997 and 2000), Fiji (1997), Finland (1992), Gabon  (2001), Ghana (1992 and 2001), Guinea (1999),
Hong Kong (1990, 1994 and 1998), Hungary (1991 a nd 1998), Iceland (1994 and 2000), India (1993
and 1998), Indonesia (1991, 1994 and 1998), Israel  (1994 and 1999), Jamaica (1998), Japan (1990,
1992, 1995,1998 and 2000), Kenya (1993 and 2000), Korea, Rep. of (1992, 1996 and 2000), Lesotho
(1998), Macao (1994 and 2001), Madagascar (2001), Malaysia (1993 and 1997), Mali (1998),
Mauritius (1995), Mexico (1993 and 1997), Morocco (1989 and 1996), Mozambique (2001), NewZealand (1990 and 1996), Namibia (1998), Nicaragua (1999), Nigeria (1991 and 1998), Norway
(1991, 1996 and 2000), OECS (2001), Pakistan (1995), Papua New Guinea (1999), Paraguay (1997),
Peru (1994 and 2000), the Philippines (1993 and 1999), Poland (1993 and 2000), Romania (1992 and
1999), Senegal (1994), Singapore (1992, 1996 and 2000), Slovak Republic (1995), the Solomon
Islands (1998), South Africa (1993 and 1998), Sri Lanka(1995), Swaziland (1998), Sweden (1990 and
1994), Switzerland (1991, 1996 and 2000 (jointly with Liechtenstein)), Tanzania (2000), Thailand
(1991, 1995 and 1999), Togo (1999), Trinidad and T obago (1998), Tunisia (1994), Turkey (1994 and
1998), the United States (1989, 1992, 1994, 1996 a nd 1999), Uganda (1995), Uruguay (1992 and
1998), Venezuela (1996), Zambia (1996) and Zimbabwe (1994).PRESS/TPRB/170
Page 4
MORETRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY
CAMEROON
Report by the Secretariat – Summary Observations
Since 1995, the Cameroonian economy has started to recover slowly but steadily from its
earlier prolonged depression. Growth has averaged 4.7% a year over the last five fiscal years
(1995/96-1999/00).  Over the same period, inflation and the fiscal deficit have been low.  The
improved performance is due mainly to the implementation of structural reforms (economic
liberalization and privatization) as well as favourable external events. Structural reforms have focused
on the privatization of state monopolies and price liberalization to allow market forces to allocate
resources.  In this context, the Government sees  trade liberalization as integral to its efforts in
modernizing the economy. Trade policy objectives continue to be oriented towards a more open traderegime, and increasing market access for Cameroon's exports.
Despite its recent improved growth, Cameroon still suffers from widespread poverty,
deterioration in the education and health systems, and weaknesses in governance;  in 1999/00, GDP
per capita had not yet reached its pre-depression level.  The authorities seem committed to continuing
the reform process, including improvements in the transparency of the legal system, particularly toreduce poverty.  In concert  with the continued reform effort, the IMF and the World Bank agreed at
end-2000 to support a comprehensive debt-reduction programme for Cameroon under the HIPC
initiative.
Agriculture and forestry are the main contributors to GDP, with the petroleum sector also of
considerable importance to the economy.  Cameroon's exports are dominated by petroleum andpetroleum products.  Other important export items include cocoa (notably beans), coffee, aluminium,
and lumber.  Manufactured products dominate imports.  The geographic pattern of Cameroon's trade
has remained more or less the same since Cameroon's previous Review, in February 1995: the
European Union (EU) continues to be the dominant market for exports (accounting for around 66% of
merchandise exports in 1999/00) as well as the main source of imports (50%);  France is the singlelargest source of imports, accounting for about a quarter of total merchandise imports.  As regards
exports, Italy has overtaken France as the main destination market.  Outside the EU, Chad and the
United States are important export markets, and Ni geria, Japan, and the United States are important
import sources.
Trade and Investment Policy Framework
Cameroon's general trade policy orientation and objectives have not changed significantly
since its last Review. The Government has continued to undertake measures aimed at liberalizing its
trade policy regime, fostering the private sector's involvement in the economy, improving
competitiveness, and promoting investment.  These objectives have been pursued mainly through a
process of a revived regional integration effort under the CEMAC (Communauté économique et
monetaire de l'Afrique centrale), which also includes the Central African Republic, Chad, EquatorialGuinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
Responsibility for trade policy formulation and implementation has remained broadly
unchanged during the review period.  Trade policy formulation is under the responsibility of the
Ministry of Industrial and Commercial Development and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Cameroon does not have an independent statutory body to review, or advise the Government on,economic and trade policies.  Consultations with the private sector take place on an ad hoc basis.PRESS/TPRB/170
Page 5
MOREThe authorities, aware of the importance of a clearer legal framework to support economic
reform, are making efforts to improve the transparency and enforcement of current legislation; this
should enhance the system's predictability and increase investor confidence.
Cameroon is a founding Member of the WTO and grants at least MFN treatment to all its
trading partners.  Its tariff binding commitments cover around 15% of its total tariff lines.  Cameroon
holds observer status in the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft; in mid-2001, Cameroon willbecome an observer to the Agreement on Government Procurement.  As a developing country,
Cameroon used transition periods to implement a number of commitments under various WTO
Agreements.  The authorities have expressed concerns about Cameroon's  implementation of the
Agreements owing to a lack of information and training.  Most of Cameroon's annual notification
requirements under the WTO Agreements are yet to be fulfilled.  Enhanced technical assistance
efforts by WTO Members and the Secretariat could greatly facilitate Cameroon's further integration in
the multilateral trading system.
Cameroon's trade policies and practices are, to a large extent, determined regionally under
CEMAC.  Certain areas, such as trade in services, are regulated by both supra national, and national
regulation covering issues not subject to common regional rules.
The CEMAC is based on an economic and monetary union.  One of the objectives of the
Community is to establish a unified market al lowing for open trade and capital flows between its
Member States.  A Common External Tariff (CET) is in place for trade with third countries, while
trade inside the Community has been  duty free since 1998.  The CET has four rates:  5% (for
essential goods);  10% (for raw materials and capital goods);  20% (for intermediate goods);  and 30%
(for consumer goods). A common regional central bank (BEAC) establishes and administers monetary
policy for CEMAC members.  Recent developments show that progress has been achieved in theCommunity towards economic union;  efforts are also under way for the harmonization of internal
taxation, facilitation of the movement of persons and capital (a regional Investment Charter was
adopted in 1999), and the free circulation of services.  However, trade between Cameroon and its
CEMAC partners is low compared with the trad e flows between Cameroon and its main trading
partners in Europe.
Foreign investment is considered by the Government as a key factor in Cameroon's economic
development.  Various initiatives have been undert aken to attract foreign investors, including the
simplification of administrative procedures, the provision of specific incentives, implementation of
competition legislation, judicial reform, privatization, and a National Governance Programme to fight
corruption.  Cameroon's investment legislation contains all the basic elements to provide an openliberal investment climate.  However, it appears that the implementation of these initiatives has been
slow.
Trade and Trade-Related Policies and Measures
Cameroon's main trade policy instrument is the ta riff. All applied tariffs are ad valorem, and
there are no seasonal or variable rates, adding to the transparency of the regime.  The simple average
applied MFN tariff was 18.3% in 2000, slightly lower than the prevailing average at the time of thelast Review.  As a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations, Cameroon bound all its agricultural
(WTO definition) tariff lines at a ceiling rate of 80%, while only three tariff rates levied on non-
agricultural products were bound.  The bound tariff rates are substantially higher than the applied
rates;  closing this gap would further improve predictability of the tariff regime.
Imports, as well as domestically produced goods, are subject to a value-added tax (18.7%),
and some products to a 25% excise tax (alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cosmetics, and jewellery).  APRESS/TPRB/170
Page 6
MOREtemporary import surcharge of up to 30% was levied on a few products until June 2000. The relatively
few import restrictions currently in place are aimed at ensuring security, and protecting public health
and the environment.  Customs procedures have been streamlined through the opening of a single-
window facility.  For customs valuation, Cameroon continues to use the Brussels Definition of Value,
but as of July 2001 it is expected to apply th e WTO Customs Valuation Agreement.  Cameroon has
legislation regulating contingency trade measures (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguards) buthas not  applied such measures to date.  Standardization is at an early stage in Cameroon.
The Cameroon export regime has been further liberalized during the review period.  At
present, export licences apply only to "sensitive" goods (e.g. gold and diamonds) while coffee and
cocoa require an export certificate to ensure quality.  Remaining export prohibitions, such as on
hazardous products, are in place for health and environmental reasons.  All export taxes, except those
levied on logs, have been removed.  Exports of logs are also subject to quotas.  Cameroon does not
grant any specific assistance to exporters other than tax incentives.  Tax incentives are also providedto promote industrial development, encourage exports, raise value added, and create employment.
These incentives are contingent upon export performance and, in certain instances, on the use of
domestic inputs.
Cameroon has introduced new legislation on government procurement, particularly to
enhance the transparency of the regime.  In principle, local companies receive a 20% price-preferencemargin on all government procurement.  The Government has undertaken efforts to fight corruption
and increase transparency;  it has established requirements for wider tender announcements,
independent monitors for large contract awards, and has instituted more regular audits of tender
awards.
Intellectual property legislation has been revised at the regional level (under the African
Intellectual Property Organization, OAPI), to seek compliance with the TRIPS Agreement;
implementation of the revised legislation still awaits ratification by five of OAPI's 15 members.
The process of privatization in Cameroon, which started in 1990, has continued;  however,
state monopolies remain in some utilities (water and electricity).  In 1997, a new law to regulate
competition policy was adopted and applies both to private and public enterprises.  Services providedby state monopolies, as well as some basic goods, are subject to price controls.
Sectoral Issues
Agriculture and forestry remain Cameroon's leading economic activities, accounting for more
than 40% of GDP and providing employment for about 60% of the population. The agriculture sector
has undergone thorough reform since 1994: quantitative restrictions on imports and exports have beenremoved, and most parastatals have been privatized.  There have also been some reforms in forestry;
however, export restrictions and taxes still apply to some forestry products.  Export taxes on other
agricultural products, including cocoa, coffee, cotton, sugar, and palm oil, were removed recently.
The Government sees the development of the agriculture sector as the best means for
reducing poverty in Cameroon and stimulating economic growth.  It is determined to further liberalize
the sector, including through privatization.  Its strategy is to improve the sector's competitiveness and
enhance factor productivity, with a view to strength ening growth and increasing farmers' income.  The
Government's efforts are also aimed at diversifying domestic production and promoting export
diversification.  The average MFN tariff levied on agriculture (WTO definition) is 22.5%.
Oil-related activities account for around 5.5% of  GDP and 45% of exports; other mineral
deposits in Cameroon remain largely unexploited. The Government's policy objectives are to develop
the oil and minerals sectors' potential through further liberalization and provision of incentives, asPRESS/TPRB/170
Page 7
MOREwell as to increase efficiency and transparency in the management of the oil sector. The Government
is to develop a legislative and regulatory framework for mining, natural gas, and petroleum activities
that will allow for the development of offshore reserves, promote and develop hydroelectric potential,
and promote the distribution of petroleum products.
Manufacturing in Cameroon remains relatively underdeveloped and accounts for around 14%
of GDP.  Cameroon does not provide industry-specific incentives.  The Government's overall policyobjective for the sector is to support private-sector activity.  A strategy to promote the development of
manufacturing is to be adopted by mid-2001;  effo rts are aimed at promoting investment and exports
(to the regional market), and improving professional and technical training.
The services sector contributes some 40% of GDP. Cameroon has eliminated most of its
previous restrictions on trade in services.  Remaining restrictions are limited to the so-called strategic
services, such as water distribution, electricity, public transportation, and telecommunications.  The
performance of the services sector has been poor, and lack of efficiency has impeded the developmentof other sectors.  Some services have been restructured, including through privatization and the
adoption of a new regulatory framework aimed at attracting additional operators so as to improve the
quality and provision of services.  This regime  is not, however, bound under the GATS.  Cameroon's
commitments under GATS cover only some subsectors of business services, and tourism and travel-
related services.  Exemptions to MFN treatment ar e maintained on maritime transport.  Cameroon did
not participate in the WTO negotiations on basic telecommunications, nor on financial services.
Cameroon's banking sector has   undergone a thorough reform.  Since the late 1980s, the
authorities have implemented a programme of privatization, liquidation, and recapitalization of banks,
and have reinforced the regulatory and supervisory capacity.  The Government sold its last state-
owned bank in January 2000.  The Central African St ates Bank (BEAC) regulates the sector through
its regional banking commission (COBAC), which shar es responsibility with the national ministries of
finance for licensing new banks.  Cameroon is one of the 14 African countries that ratified the Treaty
of the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Ma rkets (CIMA), and adopted a common code with
respect to the insurance sector.
Important efforts have been made to reform Cameroon's telecommunications sector. The
sector is now regulated by the 1998 Telecommunications Law, which calls for the privatization of the
sector and established a regulatory body to ensure the proper functioning of the industry and
competition among individual operators.
Outlook
The Cameroonian authorities are committed to continuing structural reform, with a view to
stimulating private investment, enhancing competition and efficiency, and lowering costs, thus
facilitating the efficient allocation of resources, reflecting Cameroon's comparative advantages, and
improving economic growth.  In order to attain sustainable poverty reduction, Cameroon needs to
register high economic growth rates, significantly improve efficiency in public expenditure, and
strengthen governance.  Further efforts are needed to continue the development of the physical and
services infrastructure of the economy, as well as to improve the human capital base, to overcome theconstraints that weaknesses in these areas impose on development efforts.  By improving the level of
its multilateral commitments, Cameroon could create confidence in the irreversibility of its reforms
and render them more credible, thus improving its ability to attract the needed foreign investment.
Cameroon's trading partners can assist its reform efforts by ensuring stable, increased access to their
markets, in particular for products of export interest to Cameroon.PRESS/TPRB/170
Page 8
MORETRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY
CAMEROON
Report by the Government of Cameroon - Part IV
Outlook for the Cameroonian economy – Macroeconomic policies
Motivated by the encouraging results of the implementation of its three-year programme
(1997-2000), the Government has adopted a poverty alleviation programme for the 2001-2003 period.
This programme reinforces the reforms launched since August 1997.
It is based on the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP-I), prepared with a
participatory approach in mind and adopted in Au gust 2000.  A definitive Strategic Framework for
Poverty Reduction should be established by November  2001 at the very latest.  The overall aim of this
programme is to create conditions for strong, sustai nable growth with the potential to curb the poverty
currently affecting over 50 per cent of the population, predominantly women.  Cameroon intends to
take up a number of major challenges, notably:  (i ) to ensure that GDP continues to grow at a
minimum annual rate of 7 per cent in real terms in an endeavour to reduce the poverty rate by half by
2015;  (ii) to discover new non-petroleum growth products to export, as catalysts for economic
growth;  (iii) to strengthen the national industrial fabric and improve the quality of agricultural
products sold on the foreign market and the volu me of which is experiencing a downward trend;
(iv) to enhance governance in the fields of public finances and business with a view to:  (a) improvedexpenditure control;  (b) capacity building with regard to the design, planning, execution and
following up of the Priority Investment Programmes  (PIP) in particular;  (c) improved government
procurement procedures and greater supervision of their execution;  (d) greater transparency in and
modernization of the judicial system and the fight against corruption.  These concerns are linked to
the need to promote a dynamic private sector and ensure viable social and human development.
Sectoral polices
Over the next three years, the Government intends to develop a sectoral strategy for each
sector which clarifies sector priorities and paves the way for the development of a sliding multi-year
PIP.
With regard to the development of rural and industrial activities , as of 2001 the
Government intends to develop both an integrated rural development strategy and an industrial
development strategy.  The integrated rural development strategy will, to begin with, involve
developing suitable strategies for the livestock breeding and fisheries subsectors, based on their
potential and on the authorities' development aspirations.
Within the framework of its poverty alleviation programme, the government will introduce
so-called second-generation reforms in the three key sectors of health, education and basic rural
infrastructures.
Two interim sectoral strategies have already been adopted in the fields of education and
health.
The education strategy  aims to introduce the principle of education for all by offering
increased access to education, encouraging school attendance among girls, improving teachingPRESS/TPRB/170
Page 9
quality, professionalizing teaching and ensuring that education and training are geared towards
employment.  The authorities decided to scrap the payments required of the parents of pupils
attending public primary schools, a measure whic h took effect as of the school year 2000/2001.
An emergency investment programme focusing as a matter of priority on classroom repair
and construction will be implemented following studies to ensure effective and efficient public
spending.
In the field of health , the main objective of the sectoral strategy is to reduce infant mortality
and the incidence of communicable diseases, check the spread of HIV/AIDS, promote preventive
medicine and improve the access of the population to essential drugs.  To this end, the Government,
with the support of international health organiza tions, plans to swiftly step up the number of public
information and awareness campaigns on this scourge.
With regard to basic rural structures , the Government has increased the resources
earmarked for road network maintenance.  The grant from the Road Maintenance Fund and direct
funding by the Ministry of Public Works have substantially increased with the 2000/2001 budget.
Additional human and technical resources will also be mobilized to enable more road works to be
scheduled and related tenders awarded.  Support will also be given to the small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) in this sector, with a view to developing their ability to complete the contracts
awarded to them within the allotted time.
The Government is resolved to expedite and broaden the scope of structural reforms in the
agro-industrial, utilities, transport and petroleum  sectors in order to stimulate both private
investment and the competitiveness and efficiency of the economy as well as its production and
export capacity.
END