A partnership agreement aimed at boosting the production of chicks nationwide within the framework of support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, SMEs, has been signed in Yaounde.
APME DG and LECKPAH Group Sarl pose after signing convention
The agreement was signed Thursday 3 June 2021 between the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Promotion Agency (SMEPA) and LECKPAH Group Sarl – a Yaounde-based investment firm providing consultancy in various project endeavors which has decided to delve into the hatching and marketing of day old chicks.
The tax and customs incentives convention is signed within the framework of Law No. 2013/004 of 18 April 2013 put in place by government to offer opportunities to companies investing in Cameroon. Speaking during the signing, the General Manager of SMEPA, Jean Marie Louis Badga, said the convention exposes private investors into myriad of opportunities from the state.
APME & LECKPAH Group Sarl pose after convention
He saluted LECKPAH Group’s show of perseverance, practicality and determination to become the 50th SME to benefit the opportunities and other related incentives. The GM pledged government’s total support through the APME to make them more productive, competitive and prosperous.
Badga said by embarking on the production and marketing of day-old chicks, fertilized eggs, feed and the distribution of second generation agricultural equipment, Leckpah Group Sarl comes to contribute significantly in improving the well-being of Cameroonian consumers, while boosting the local economy through import-substitution activities, which is a top priority in the national development strategy (SND-30).
The APME boss urged the officials of the firm to preach about the benefits that come with the convention to other SMEs still hesitant or insufficiently informed of such options to help grow their businesses, gain new markets, visibility and meet more challenges.
Badga enjoined the company to pay attention to APME’s CAMPACK-Q program which works to improve the quality and traceability of products and businesses, the KAIZEN continuous improvement and productivity program, the business diagnosis and restructuring program, the ICT business modernization program among others which are other aspects they can exploit from APME to grow and become a flagship firm with the Cameroonian economy.
As explained by the Director General of the firm, Leckpa Tedonfet Mirante, after launching their new service with capacity to hatch 30 000 chicks, they thought it wise to sign the convention in order to benefit government’s fiscal and customs incentives with reductions of about 25-50%.
She noted that the benefits would permit them to double or even triple the production in the near future and also create more jobs for youths. Aside hatching chicks, the company, she explained, also works with farmers, breeders and real estate owners as well as other sectors that bring in revenue since it deals principally on investments.
On his part, APME’s Director of One-stop Shop for Private Investment Incentives, Constant Lobe Mpoh, used the opportunity to challenge other SMEs to make use of such opportunities which is not limited only to big companies.
He recalled that results from a study carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) revealed that more than 218 000 enterprises exists with over 98.5% of them SMEs but decried the fact that majority of such SMEs lack the qualified staff to make necessary analyses to judge such opportunities put at their disposal.
Mpoh said with just 50 conventions signed since the 2013 law warrants the APME to intensify sensitization in this direction to get more SMEs on board.
By Doh Bertrand
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