Cameroon: International Handicraft Exhibition – Assuring Hitch-free Show
AllAfrica.com, Washington
22 January 2008
Posted to the web 22 January 2008
Lukong Pius Nyuylime
The Exhibition ground to host the first ever International Handicraft Forum, (better known by its French abbreviation-SIARC), situated at the esplanade of the National Museum, was a point of attraction yesterday.
During a one-hour press conference during which the Minister of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, briefed pressmen on the state of preparation. The SMEs boss, accompanied by his counterpart from the Central African Republic and other dignitaries, then moved straight to the field to assess the work going on, four days ahead of the event.
Whether Minister Etoundi Ngoa was innately satisfied with the rate at which the work was going on, was the question on several lips. But what was clear yesterday during his visit of the area was his determination to see that the event contribute in reshaping the fate of Cameroonian handicraft. At the press conference, he reminded journalists of the importance the Head of State places on the forum. “The forum is already a reality”, he assured even the most doubting of the Thomases, stating inter alia that the stands under construction will readily translate the culture of the country.
The forum, to stretch from 25 January to 02 February, 2008, will certainly be dominated by the exhibition of the best handicrafts from countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), but it is equally occasion for reflection. “A ministers’ conference will be organised at the Hilton”, he said. According to Minister Etoundi Ngoa, 365 stands are already being constructed. Of this number, ten will be national stands while each member country will have a stand. “There are ten provincial stands”, he said.
In Cameroon, 300 participants have already indicated their desire to take part in the exhibition. There will be 20 stands for government structures and 350 stands for artists. Tourism and culture have been given very strategic places at the exhibition ground.
In spite of government’s high ambition, it is not all to be roses for the Minister of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft. Of the CFA 150 million budgeted for the event, barely CFA 52 million has been disbursed.