Despite the government's poor record on implementing capital projects, the president has made a raft of campaign-style promises to fast-track public works in advance of the presidential election. For example, contracts have already been awarded to a local construction firm to tar the Bamenda ring road, a road linking the commercial centres of the North West region (Wum, Nkambe, Kumbo, Ndop and Bamenda) and tarring is expected to begin soon. CFAfr12bn (US$24.5m) of the recent successful issuance of over CFAfr200bn-worth of bonds on the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX) in December are earmarked for upgrading the road, and the 2011 budget included the road in the capital budget of the Ministry of Public Works. This road would be expected to increase commerce and bring growth and jobs to the region, and, together with Mr Biya's visit, the regime hopes that these improvements will help it to gain a foothold in the country's main opposition stronghold in the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections. In addition to the president's pledges in the region, Mr Biya made a series of promises in his annual New Year's Eve speech, including free malaria treatment to all children under five and several social housing projects.