The courtesy and farewell visit granted by Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III to His Excellency Marco ROMITI on Tuesday 21st September 2021 served as an occasion for both parties to revisit the state of cooperation between Cameroon and Italy especially in the field of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Social Economy and Handicrafts.
While presenting his farewell messages to the Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III appreciated the outgoing ambassador for his incessant support, partnership opportunities and experiences acquired by Cameroonian SMEs especially in the field of agro-food transformation. Italy’s support in the incubation program for enterprises was also highlighted. Speaking during the audience, His Excellency Marco ROMITI stated that he could not leave Cameroon without showing appreciation for the cordial relation both parties had indulged in as well as the tasks carried out by both structures that served as a plus to both countries. Though some important partnership deals were heavily intercepted by the ongoing COVID pandemic, His Excellency Marco ROMITI promised that his successor will concretize the partnership deals both parties had begun when the COVID pandemic must have been contained.
Given that Italy has the highest rate of SMEs in Europe and is considered a reference in the skin and leather sector in this continent, the audience also served as an opportunity for both parties to envisage better prospects for Cameroon within the framework of sectoral cooperation with Italy. Some of these prospects are centered specifically in the sectors of technological transfer, intensification of partnership between both countries, the identification of Italian production units in the areas of the procession and conservation of dairy products and the leather sector as well as the multiplication of partnerships between Cameroonian and Italian universities and incubation centres. In line with the skin and leather sector, it should be mentioned that MINPMEESA aims to get acquainted with the Italian policy in terms of the supervision of the leather sector which stands as a promising sector of the SND30.
It should be recalled that His Excellency Marco ROMITI was received in audience by Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III on September 20th 2019 during which both personalities sought methods of intensifying bilateral relations between both countries.