Congo to host summit of Central Africa leaders

Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) – A summit of head of State from the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC) will be held this month in Brazzaville, the organization’s secretary general, Antoine Ntsimi, said on Tuesday in the Congolese capital.

“We’ll begin in two weeks with meetings of the experts,” he said at the end of a meeting in Brazzaville with Congolese president Denis Sassou N’Guesso, incumbent chairman of CEMAC.

This would be followed by a meeting of council of ministers and then a summit of heads of State.

He did not, however, give the precise date for the summit which would review several issues such as the regional economic programme that aims at alleviating poverty in the sub-region.

“Everyone knows that our soil is rich of raw materials. We must find the best formula to transform and create added value and create jobs as well,” Mr Ntsimi said.

Also on the agenda is CEMAC biometric passport for all member countries.

"The secure biometric passport will be progressively established and will coexist with the former passports so that there is no break," Mr Ntsimi added.

CEMAC brings together six countries - Cameroun, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad.
-0- PANA MB/AAS/IBA/MSA/MA 3July2012