CAMTEL'S GM says embracing digital tools is key for Growth, Sustainability, Competitiveness of Businesses in Cameroon

By Martial Gnoukapasi

Camtel's director Judith Yah Sunday epse ACHIDI

The General Manager of Cameroon Telecommunication (CAMTEL),Judith Yah Sunday epse ACHIDI has indicated that digital technology is key for the growth and sustainability of not just big companies, but small and medium size enterprises in Cameroon especially those in the private sector.

She was speaking April 30th in Yaounde on the occasion of CAMTEL's Business Day, bringing together stakeholders of the business economy to brainstorm on how they can make good use of the digital tools put at their disposal by CAMTEL in becoming innovative and render them competitive on the global stage.

The general manager indicated that despite the huge volume of investment made by the Cameroon government in fostering digitalization through CAMTEL, the applicable use of information and communication technology tools by the local population and businesses was still very limited.

"Only 65% of Big businesses in the country and 60% of small businesses have gone digital so far" She said

She told the stakeholders who answered present that government through the National and Strategic Development Paper for 2030, aim to transform Cameroon's economy by implementing fundamental changes in the country's economic and social fabric that will promote indigenous and inclusive development.

Businesses especially those of the private sector must embrace these digital tools as to meet up with the infrastructural development so as to be able to promote local business initiative and protect the country's economic space in the world.

"You must fight to increase and accelerate the usage of digital technology for the development of the country" she added

Embracing digital transformation by businesses according to Judith Yah will speed up the industralization process in the country.

She thanked the stakeholders for their availability in forming resolutions guided by CAMTEL's vision of developing local businesses to encourage competition by applying digital technology and numerical tools.

Cameroon Telecommunication CAMTEL, on the occasion of the celebration of the 4th edition of the Small and Medium enterprise day coming up on June 27th 2024 has been assigned and will be playing a vital role in helping young enterprises in Cameroon to go digital and transform structurally.

Camtel's director of the business Unit Fix, Christian Etoudi Ngaba, said the CAMTEL Business objectives was to promote the usage of digital technology in encouraging competitiveness amongst business entities. "We have analyse and evaluate the impact of digitalization in the life of enterprises and together with different stakeholders, adopted strategies in line with our vision to ensure flexibility of enterprises in cameroon" he said

On how CAMTEL can support the business world in Cameroon to go digital, Mr Herman Fotie II, permanent secretary of the Competitiveness Committee said the company was already doing so through the technology and innovation it has put at the disposal of Cameroonians

"We are in a world globally digitalize and it's necessary for companies and business units to adopt these technologies to improve on their productivity so as to size up with the standards of foreign companies. We came here to give our own contribution towards that and it's important to note that adopting the latest digital tools helps to cut the cost of production for any company" he said

Chantel Elombat Mbedey who's the director at the enterprise upgrading office, also express her satisfaction with CAMTEL and the central role it plays in the digital development of Cameroon. She indicated that in this century, adopting digital technology remains a key that will drive competitiveness amongst businesses in Cameroon and the business community must seize such an opportunity in enhancing their own growth and that of the nation.

Since September 8, CAMTEL has been organizing a series of activities in connection with it's 25 years of existence at the service of the nation. An anniversary celebration place under the distinguished patronage of the Head of State Paul Biya with aim to outline strategic guidelines for the development of digital technology in Cameroon.

There's been the CAMTEL digital day, infrastructure day, youth week, women's day, Camtel's decentralisation day etc, all avenues to enhance the company's contribution in achieving SND30.