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GV Port of Abidjan in Ivory Coast with ships being loaded with sacks of grain and rolls of paper (6 shots)
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GV AND TILT DOWN Multi-storied African development Bank in Abidjan (2 shots)
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SV Mr. Lamine Fadika, Ivory Coast Minister of the Navy, entering conference and sitting down
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GV Conference delegates seated around table
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GV Mr. Fadika speaking in French
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GV Delegates listening to speech (5 shots)
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GV More groups of delegates
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CU Mr. Fadika speaking in French
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Many of Africa's national shipping companies began a two-day conference on Wednesday (27 August) in the port of Abidjan on the Ivory Coast. Those taking part were members of COWAC, a group of shipping companies which operate between European ports and Central and West Africa.

SYNOPSIS: Abidjan, one of West Africa's principal shipping ports played host to the working session of COWAC members. The object of the conference is to speech up the adoption of a code of conduct for maritime organisations in Africa. Some members have been concerned that their shipping lines have faced unfair trade barriers.

The sessions were held in the conference room of the African Development Bank.

Lamine Fadika, Naval Minister of the host country, opened the conference, made up of delegates from bout ten West an Central African countries.

Mr. Fadika outlined the purpose of the meetings, reminding the delegates that it was on the initiative Ivory coast President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, that the first ministerial conference on shipping was held in Abidjan in May, 1975.

He said President Houphouet-Boigny believed that the best way for developing countries to be assured of beneficial shipping conditions was to create their own national fleets.

Mr. Fadika said that developing countries face exorbitant costs when they have to rely on international companies to move their products to distant markets. He urged all delegates to reach agreement and put into action a plan fro sharing cargo according to proposals put forth on the new International Marine Code of Conduct.