A Cameroonian based in the U.S, Beatrice Mensah Tayui, is back to contribute her own quota in the socio-economic development of the country

The Head of State’s call on Cameroonians in the Diaspora to come onboard the development train is receiving positive feedback. A Cameroonian based in the U.S, Beatrice Mensah Tayui, is back to contribute her own quota in the socio-economic development of the country. Her company, “Locam Global” which consists in renting caterpillars as well as leasing other heavy duty equipment has seen the light of day. After the official launch of the company’s activities in Yaounde Tuesday, Mrs Mensah Tayui, the President/CEO of Locam Global in a chat with CT explains what the company will do, why the choice of caterpillars, development moves in the country as well as what could be done to attract others abroad as well as potential investors into the country. Read on…

Beatrice Mensah Tayui: «Investing at Home is Something to be Proud of»

Beatrice Mensah Tayui, President/Chief Executive Officer, Locam Global Company. What is Locam Global Company all about? Local Global is a heavy equipment rental company which essentially deals with caterpillar machines and other heavy equipment. Basically, we will service construction companies. Our fleet of caterpillars and other heavy equipment machines will be brand new and our operators will be professionally trained. So the fleet of machines that we will put into the market or infrastructure industry will be reliable machines that we think the industry needs at this point in order to be able to help with the initiatives and development that government has set forth. Why the choice of investing in Caterpillars and other heavy duty equipment? Several years ago we realised that there was a gap in the market and it seemed as though MATGENIE could not provide the kind of equipment that the market needed. We figured that if we put a fleet of excellent machines in the market, we train our workers to not just be employees but also to feel as they work for a family, for a career, create these opportunities and train them with a right kind of professional credo, it will guarantee success. We thought that with excellent machines and good managerial skills we will be able to service the market in the way that it wasn’t done in the past such that we could eliminate all the mistakes that were made to a point where the market no longer has such deficiencies in machines. We have a contract with Tractafric to provide maintenance and service and this will make sure that machines don’t get broken down on project sites. How far have you gone with the acquisition of the equipment and what does it take for companies to access the equipment? The first batch of all our machines have been ordered and we figured that the rainy season is the best time for us to start hiring people as well as get the needs of the different companies because you don’t wait until when you actually need the machines before discussing your needs. In the way we are structured, if you need machines three months from now you let us know today. Our manager on the ground is discussing any needs, any contracts that people would need fulfilled by September. What are your expectations from the Cameroon government and people and what do you think could be done to spur other Diaspora Cameroonians to change their habits and embrace development back home? I truly believe that the programme that has been set forth by the President and by the Prime Minister to implement infrastructure development is very serious. They have been supportive in giving us guidelines, the projects they have in the pipeline and they have been honest about their vision for infrastructure development. That is what is needed by any private sector that is coming in. My heartbeat is in Cameroon. No matter how successful, wherever you are, home is home and nation building belongs to all of us. We need to put our hands together, sweat together and claim what is our own. If we do not come back to support the development of Cameroon, who do we expect to do it? Cameroon nurtured us and you do not turn your back on whoever nurtures you. This could be an inspiration to others who only want to look at what is going wrong. We want to be part of a solution not armchair critics by moving the development of Cameroon from good to great. Open communication will help potential investors to understand what the parameters are and I see its being done. Investing in your country is something you should take pride in.