YAOUNDE, Sept. 15 -- The Central African Republic (CAR) held an investment conference in Cameroon's commercial hub of Douala Thursday.

Herve Ndoba, the country's minister of Finance and Budget, told investors that the government is working to implement an ambitious reform agenda to promote sustainable economic recovery.

He said the government is also reviewing the country's investment laws to boost investors' confidence in the country.

"We want to enhance development and build our infrastructure and the needs are absolutely great. We have evaluated that we need 537 billion CFA francs (about 819 million U.S. dollars) in the short-run," Ndoba said, adding that the landlocked country has abundant natural resources and "impressive" agricultural potential.

The CAR has been wracked by violence, since Seleka rebels ousted then President Francois Bozize in 2013 which has forced nearly half of the country's population to migrate and depend on humanitarian assistance, according to the UN.

  - Xinhua