Finance Minister, Louis Paul Motaze
Minister Motaze(middle) clad in SW traditional regalia.
By Ahone Heidi
The Minister of finance Louis Paul Motaze has officially launched the 2025 budget. The ceremony which took place in Buea in the Southwest, January 15 , 2025 in the presence of local authorities and finance stakeholders in the region provided the opportunity for the presentation of different aspects of the budget and especially projects earmarked for the Southwest region.
Among others, the Minister announced the rehabilitation of the Bekoko- Limbe Idenau road, construction of the Kumba-Ekondo-Titi road, Bangem-Nguti road etc. Other projects include the installation and commissioning of the SONARA high voltage sub-station, the Limbe gas power plant, ronnovation of Techical high school Ombe,rehabilitation and extension of NASLA as well as equipping of district hospitals.
Presidential Reconstruction Plan.
The Minister of Finance announced the allocation of 36.4 billion CFA francs for the reconstruction of crisis-affected areas, up from 34 billion fcfa.
It should be noted that the 2025 budget is set at 7,317.7 billion FCFA, increasing by 39.6 billion FCFA (+0.5%) compared to that of 2024.
Budget innovations 2025
Augusta Arrey Tabeyang of the Directorate General of the Budget underlined, among other things some innovations in the 2025 budget, including the modernization of the management of state staff spending-
-The reduction of the price of the special tax on petroleum products applicable to industrial gas from 60 to 50 FCFA per cubic meter.
There is also the exemption from stamp duty on research permits for Cameroonian researchers, the reduction in the rate of income tax of movable capital for dividends distributed by SMEs, the fight against tax fraud,the consecration of tax equity and modernization,the strengthening of the relationship of trust with taxpayers,
the preservation of the health of the populations.
-The government also emphasized on the promotion of import substitution policy,the implementation of green taxation,the fight against fiscal, customs and commercial fraud.
BIP 2025 prospects
There was the presentation on the general prospects of the BIP for the 2025 financial year which is 1,863.1 billion FCFA, or 25.7% of the budget of the State.
These concern the strengthening of social cohesion and decentralization process, the strengthening of security and health monitoring,the continuation and finalization of first generation development projects
The Minister of Finance indicated that the success of the socio-economic development programs of Cameroon depends on the actors of the budgetary sector, as well as the firm commitment of all to work for peace, stability and the security of our country.