The Canadian High Commissioner has appreciated the efforts put into the development plan of the North West Region.
Richard Bale was speaking during a working session with the Northwest Regional Assembly led by the President, Professor Fru Angwafor III while on a working visit to the region on April 22, 2022.
The diplomat was reacting after an elaborate presentation of the development plan that cuts across health, education, electricity, and water just to name a few.
Quizzed on how his government is to assist the Regional Assembly to realize this development plan, he explains, "The Regional Assembly has put in a tremendous effort into accessing needs and identifying opportunities. For partners like Canada the next step is for us to digest that plan and look to see if they are areas of complementarity and to share with the Canadian private sector who are active here in Cameroon" he explained.
Furthering that, other diplomatic corps need to visit the region and have an assessment of the situation first-hand.
"There are very diplomats who travel to the Northwest. I am not the first and will certainly not be the last to visit. I will tell colleagues who asked about my trip that based on my experience so far it is possible to visit Bamenda. Foreign diplomats need to visit to engage with the right stakeholders be it the government, traditional leaders, civil society, private sector. It is only by engaging with this great variety of stakeholders on the ground that we can improve our understanding of the situation here and then ensure are engagements are better targeted" he added.
The President of the Northwest Regional Assembly Professor Fru Angwafor III in his address earlier, appreciated the Canadian Government for its support of the region.
"The region has benefited in large measure from the multifaceted relations with your country. I recall the support in the creation of community radio stations, technical schools and educational grants and scholarships, the Kumbo water project, and others within the human and physical development realm" Prof. Fru narrated.
Prof. Fru Angwafor III expressed the wish of the region to twin with provinces and initiate partnerships and joint ventures between private concerns and NGOs.
He painted a picture of the potential of the region to the foreign diplomat.
"The Regional Assembly after sharing the development plan seeks partnerships in trade and economic development. We are home to kola coffee, Ndawara tea, Oku honey, textile designs, and other coveted products in international markets. The agricultural potential and projected road infrastructure and the Bamenda dry port offer an opportunity for regional and international trade" he furthers.
The Canadian High Commissioner Richard Bale during the working visit met with other administrative, religious, and traditional authorities of the Northwest Region.
By Wanchia Cynthia
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