U.S. Doubles Support to Cameroon

Outgoing Ambassador, Robert P. Jackson, spoke at a State dinner in Yaounde on October 2.

Relations between Cameroon and the United States of America are excellent, with cooperation growing in various fields. Speaking on October 2, 2013 at a State dinner organised by the Minister of External Relations, Prof. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel on behalf of President Paul Biya, outgoing US Ambassador, Robert P. Jackson, said his country's support to Cameroon has more than doubled during his three-year tenure.

He listed the areas of such cooperation to include health, agriculture, education, environmental management, civil society promotion and security. Ambassador Jackson said he was particularly proud to witness the historic local council and parliamentary elections of September 30, 2013 in the country. He expressed special gratitude to the Head of State for his decoration with the medal of the Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour at the State dinner by Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo.

On his memories of Cameroon, the American diplomat said he was touched by the warm welcome he received in every region he visited and the honour given him by various traditional chiefs and ordinary people. Speaking earlier in his toast, Minister Mbonjo said trade between the two countries increased by 25 per cent in 2011, with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID and its partner agencies granting 40 million Dollars (about FCFA 19.2 billion) to Cameroon this year.

He noted with joy the continual and increasing interest shown by American investors in sectors like mining, energy, telecommunications, hotel management, aviation and agriculture. He cited the example of the American Geovic mining company in the East Region that has invested 400 billion Dollars (about FCFA 192,924 billion) - considered as the largest investment in Sub-Saharan Africa.