TRADE FAIR; TRACTORS; VISITORS ARRIVE; PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY CUTS RUBBON; PHOTO - GENERAL DE GAULLE; PRESIDENT WITH M. FRANCOIS ORTOLI; DIGNITARIES TOUR FAIR.




Initials IF/V/MR/PC



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Background: PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY OF THE IVORY COAST WAS GUEST OF HONOUR ON THURSDAY (15 FEBRUARY) AT THE INAUGURATION OF AN EXHIBITION MARKING 'FRENCH TECHNICAL WEEK' IN ABIDJAN. THIS IS THE BIGGEST EXHIBITION OF ITS KIND SO FAR ORGANISED BY FRANCE IN A FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRY.

IT WAS AN EVENING OPENING FOR THE FAIR, WHICH WILL RUN UNTIL 25 FEBRUARY. ACCOMPANYING THE PRESIDENT WAS THE FRENCH MINISTER OF EQUIPMENT AND HOUSING, M. FRANCOIS ORTOLI, WHO HAD FLOWN OVER ESPECIALLY FROM PARIS. SOME 200 HEADS OF FRENCH ENGINEERING FIRMS WERE ALSO EXPECTED, AS WELL AS 35 INVITED GUESTS FROM 17 FRENCH-SPEAKING AND ENGLISH-SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CONGO KINSHASA, CONGO BRAZZAVILLE, NIGERIA, GHANA, SIERRA LEONE, AND LIBERIA.

THE FAIR COVERS 3,800 SQUARE METRES (ABOUT 4,545 SQUARE YARDS), AND MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT FORMS THE MAIN BODY OF THE DISPLAY. MOST OF THE STANDS - ABOUT 150 OF THEM BELONGING TO 212 FIRMS - ARE HOUSED IN A SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED GIANT HANGER, WHILE OTHERS ARE OUTSIDE IN THE GROUNDS. ALL IN ALL, ABOUT 400 TONS OF EXHIBITS WERE BROUGHT FROM FRANCE FOR THE OCCASION. THESE INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT TO THE LATEST IN CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION.