INTERVIEW – Like other countries on the continent that have set up economic zones, such as Benin and Gabon, Chad is focusing on promoting agribusiness and other promising sectors. In an exclusive interview, AAZES CEO Ousmane Abdramane Djougourou explains the process underway, which is intended to be inclusive and ultimately create 45,000 jobs in Chad.
Can you give us an idea of the missions assigned to AAZES?
The missions assigned to the Agence d’Administration des Zones Economiques Spéciaux (Agency for the Administration of Special Economic Zones) as a public establishment of an industrial-commercial nature are quite explicit: to organize and program development, and to promote and supervise the special economic zones established throughout the national territory.
To put it plainly, the AAZES will have the heavy responsibility of ensuring that the incentives designed to attract both domestic and foreign direct investment are put into practice. After all, the ultimate aim is for the companies that set up in the SEZs to be able to make a profit and, above all, to create jobs in order to reduce the ever-increasing rate of unemployment in our country. It’s clear that these economic zones will become centers of excellence for the creation of decent jobs.
The latest news is that at the last Extraordinary Council of Ministers, 11 plots of land in 5 provinces were allocated to AAZES. What will they be used for?
I would like to thank you for the interest your press organization is showing in the process of setting up special economic zones in Chad. The fact that these 11 plots, covering a total area of 11,516 ha, were allocated during an extraordinary council of ministers is ample proof of the importance of these Zones. They are dedicated to specific incentives, including AAZES. Application is the responsibility of AAZES, to be boosted. The industrialization of the country with a view to creating sufficient decent jobs and thus alleviating, to some extent, the absorption of local labor.
Will land be snatched up for the benefit of multinationals, with no regard for local people?
Let’s not put the cart before the horse. Nobody will lose their land. The aim is to make our land more productive through a public-private partnership focused on industrialization. AAZES is still in the installation phase, and in due course recommends exchange sessions in the zones of sites earmarked to host an ZES. We need to build an economically viable country with an adequate industrial fabric. Anything new is scary, and that’s normal, but we have a duty to build our country and, above all, to offer job opportunities to our young people. Gabon and Togo exploit timber and textiles respectively under similar conditions, and do just fine. Chad will do the same, highlighting the livestock-meat sector where, I’m sure you’ll agree, it has an undeniable competitive advantage.
In terms of jobs, what can Chad expect to gain from these five zones?
Ultimately, the aim is to create 45,000 jobs, mainly for nationals. This laudable objective can only be achieved with the involvement of all stakeholders in the process. And AAZES will be working with ARISE on a mass awareness-raising strategy to inform people in the areas concerned about the social and economic benefits. They need to know that the development of these terroirs, which the government is calling for with all its heart and soul, will be achieved with the invaluable help of the local people, who will be the actors and not the spectators, as some misinformed people speculate.
The people of Logone Oriental, referring to oil exploitation, suggest that when you’ve been bitten by the snake, you should fear the rope. Are they right?
An economic zone is not a mining industry. In my opinion, there is no reason to make comparisons or to be overly alarmed. It’s a commercial platform made up of a developed area, energy and telecommunications infrastructures, communication routes, health and safety infrastructures, and a range of industries. It’s a combination of commercial, free trade and industrial zones. I understand their concerns or their mistrust, but they need to know that it’s not the same thing, for the simple reason that the resources will be brought in from elsewhere to be processed and packaged for export. But as far as I know, nothing will be extracted from the subsoil of the area where the SEZ will be built, apart from the water needed for its operations. It should be noted that as soon as development begins, training of the local workforce will also begin, as the companies that set up there will absorb the said workforce as a matter of priority.
What kind of profile do you need to work in the economic zone?
Anyone is welcome to work in the ZES. Worker, unemployed graduate, bricklayer, farmer, whatever your background. Everyone is likely to receive a minimum of training and be able to work at the ZES. In Benin, we’ve even seen food vendors and motorcycle repairmen become ZES employees. It must be said that the sons and daughters of the land, reputed to be hard-working, will become development players. And very soon, AAZES and Arise will be launching an outreach campaign to help people understand what’s at stake in this new economic order, from which Chad cannot escape.
