The Role of Government in Development Challenges of Firms in Industries in the Industrial Free Trade Zones in Douala, Cameroon

Abstract

The government’s role in creating, sustaining and developing industries in the Industrial-Free-Trade-Zones in Douala in particular and Cameroon in general, cannot be over emphasized. The ever increasing competition among countries for direct foreign investment is the catalyst behind the creation of the industrial-Tree-Trade-Zones in Douala and Cameroon like elsewhere in the world. It is paradoxical that while the industrial-Tree-Trade-Zones in many countries have achieved the objectives for which they were created, those in Cameroon notably in Douala have failed. Within this backdrop, this study seeks to find out why the industries in the industrial-free-trade-zones in Douala, Cameroon have not attained the objectives for their creation. The Chi-Square technique of data estimation was used along with the statistical analysis e.g. Linear Regression Models were among the analytical tools in the study. The findings, show a statistical significant relationship between government’s role and the contribution of industries in the industrial-free-trade-zones and concluding that the environment in which industries in the industrial-free -trade- zones in Douala, Cameroon  operate was not conducive to enable them attain the objectives for which they were established and upholding that there is need for government to improve on the provision of fundamental facilities like energy, funding, communications, regulations and marketing environment, FOGAPE (1988),& World Bank (2006)

Keywords: Firms, Challenges, Industrial –free- trade- zones, development, Douala, and Cameroon.