CJTF-HOA Extends Itself to Djiboutian Businesses

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Larry Foos | Said Omar Moussa, president of Djibouti's Chamber of Commerce, welcomes an audience of Djiboutian businessmen and women to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa's Vendor Day, Dec. 22. The event helped bridge African companies to the many maintenance, service, supply and construction contracts that support Camp Lemonnier, CJTF-HOA and its down range projects throughout Eastern Africa.  

DJIBOUTI, DJIBOUTI

12.24.2009

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Foos 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

DJIBOUTI - Contract and facilities managers from Combined Joint Task Force — Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier took a major step toward advancing the economic condition of Djibouti and region stability through one event called Vendor Day at Djibouti's Chamber of Commerce Headquarters, Dec. 22.

The event drew nearly 100 Djiboutian businessmen and —women, bridging African companies to the many maintenance, service, supply and construction contracts that support CJTF-HOA, Camp Lemonnier and downrange projects throughout East Africa.

"It's a win win situation for both us and the local business community, and for the nations we're looking to support," said U.S. Navy Capt. Greg Johnson, chief of contracts, CJTF-HOA, and the event's coordinator. "We help Africans find African solutions to African problems, and the key is boosting the capabilities of local business communities."

Vendor Day introduced the various business opportunities and entities available at both Camp Lemonnier and CJTF-HOA, which is a tenant of the camp. Djiboutian businesses got a first hand look of not only the U.S. contracting system, but got to ask questions from those who make the decisions—the directors of the contracting systems. They make up three components, including Naval Facilities, which primarily handles the construction contracts locally and down range; Pacific Architect Engineers, a private contractor that manages services and maintenance of camp operations; and CJTF-HOA Contingency Contracting Office, which provides the life support contracts for CJTF-HOA's operating teams throughout East Africa The event helped streamline access to these entities so that Djiboutian businesses can compete for contracts—something that Johnson sees as important for everyone involved.

"We need to develop business relationships with the local businesses in Djibouti. The better we do that the better job we can do in supporting command objectives," said Johnson. "By doing so, we can source our requirements here locally. Otherwise we would have to send back to the U.S. and then wait for those things to be delivered so the closer we can source logistics the faster the response time and also it makes it a cheaper commodity."

Johnson estimated that 25 percent of the $48 million spent last year for contracts was spent within the Djibouti economy. Another 50 percent was spent in other East African countries and the remainder with European and U.S. companies.

One of the important messages communicated at Vendor Day was the online process to submit bids. Djiboutian businesses were provided the different Web sites and explained the varying components to compete for the variety of contracts offered at CJTF-HOA. U.S. Navy Capt. William E. Finn, commanding officer of Camp Lemonnier, announced the hiring of a Djibouti community relations representative at the camp, who will act as a liaison for the local business community.

Organizers and business leaders believe Vendor Day was a great first step in building business relationships in Djibouti. Djibouti's Chamber of Commerce President Said Omar Moussa sees this event as a stepping stone to ensuring region stability.

"The communication for this first [event] has been good. We have a good relationship with Camp Lemonnier. What we want to have is something concrete between the two business communities," said Moussa. "If you hit the bottom line, which is poverty, that moves people to say 'I'd rather go to heaven and sacrifice my life because I don't have anything in this world.' If you give them hope and give them jobs, it will reduce unemployment." Moussa further explained that poverty—a byproduct of unemployment—is a leading cause to push people into extremism acts.

Organizers hope that Vendor Day will be the first of many to follow. Camp Lemonnier's Community Relations Specialist for Djibouti business can be reached at commercial phone [phone].

• Date Taken: 12.24.2009
• Date Posted: 12.24.2009 06:31
• Story ID: 43115
• Location: DJIBOUTI, DJ