To the best of my memory, since the creation of the CED in 2007, never has such a significant number of framework agreements aimed at a SMED been signed during a single evening. These are the words of Professor François Bédard, Director of the CED, during a working session at UQAM with colleagues and international experts from the CED, as a summary. This attests to the success of the Learning Mission on Tourism and Local Development (MATDEL-CANADA 2023) which has just concluded and took place from April 10 to 17, 2024, in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec.

Initiated by the travel agency Universal Business in Tour and led by its general manager, Jean Solaire Kuété and the Chairman of the Board of Directors Madame Yvette Mangué, the MATDEL benefited from the institutional support of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, which mobilized three (03) of its top executives, including the Inspector General of Services, Mr. Zomekou Ateba, representing the Minister of State, Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Cameroon. As recalled by Mrs. the Prefect of the MRC du Granit, Mrs. Monique Phérivong Lenoir, also the Godmother of the event, beyond all the administrative and operational steps that allowed the holding of this first edition of MATDEL-CANADA, all this was made possible thanks to the meeting between Mr. Jean-François Ruel, Responsible for the tourism sector of the MRC du Granit, and Dr. Bertrand Dongmo Temgoua, the Regional Director of the CED, at COP 15 Montreal Kunming in December 2022.

In the end, it was a delegation of 19 people who, for a week, exchanged with professionals and experts in tourism development from the Mégantic region, whether during workshops, one-on-one meetings, or business visits. All of this was planned in collaboration by the team mobilized by the Economic Development Corporation of Granit (SDEG), including among others Annie Hébert (Project Manager at the MRC du Granit), Véronique Lachance (Communications Officer), and many others. With the follow-up that is envisaged after the signing of the framework agreements between the CED and the different municipalities present in Mégantic, there is no doubt that the local municipalities of Cameroon are on the right track to develop tourism in their respective areas.

Dr. Bertrand Dongmo Temgoua, Regional Director CED Central Africa.