MEETING HOUSE; M. CONGACOU ARRIVING AND GREETING GUESTS; CONGACOU ADDRESSING CONFERENCE; AUDIENCE LISTENING AND APPLAUDING.




Initials GL/VS/CT/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE REGULAR SESSION OF DAHOMEY'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OPENED IN COTONOU ON FRIDAY (MARCH 7) IN THE PRESENCE OF MAITRE IGNACIO PINTO, PRESIDENT OF THE DAHOMEY SUPREME COURT, M. URBAIN NICOU, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND TOURISM AND A LARGE NUMBER OF DIGNITARIES AND FOREIGN DIPLOMATS.

BEFORE FORMALLY OPENING THE SESSION, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, M. TAIROU CONGACOU, BROKE WITH PROTOCOL BY GREETING EACH OF THE GUESTS PERSONALLY.

IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS M. CONGACOU RECALLED THE INTENSE ACTIVITY WHICH HAD CHARACTERISED THE PREVIOUS SESSION OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH WAS DEVOTED TO THE INTERNAL ORGANISATION OF DAHOMEY.

HE WARNED THE COUNCIL THAT INCREASED GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE HAD MADE IT NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE INCREASES IN TAXATION, WHICH INCLUDED NEW TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES. EVEN SO THE COUNTRY WAS FAR FROM BALANCING ITS BUDGET.

ALL EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO INCREASE THE NATIONAL INCOME, SAID M. CONGACOU. PRODUCTION SHOULD BE INCREASED TO HELP THE POPULATION NOT ONLY TO HAVE ENOUGH FOOD, BUT ALSO TO EXPORT MORE FOR BETTER PRICES.

M. CONGACOU LISTED THE COUNTRY'S OFFICIAL PROGRAMME AND MADE SPECIAL MENTION OF ROAD DEVELOPMENTS TO LINK AREAS OF PRODUCTION, THE EXPLOITATION OF HYDRAULIC RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE AGBADO AND DJOUGOU DAMS AND THE TANGIETA WATERFALL PROJECT. HE SPOKE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL LOCAL INDUSTRIES, CIGARETTE AND PINEAPPLE-JUICE PRODUCTION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOU, THE BUTTER DAIRIES STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT BIRO AND OUENOU, THE BUILDING OF AN INDUSTRIAL ABATTOIR AND TANNERY AT PARAKOU.

ALL THESE PROJECTS COULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE RURAL ECONOMIES TO HELP THEIR DEVELOPMENT, SAID M. CONGACOU. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION WAS CLEAR -- IT WANTED TO IMPROVE SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE RURAL AREAS. NOT ONLY THROUGH VAST PROJECTS BUT EVEN MORE BY A RANGE OF SMALLER SCHEMES BACKED BY MATURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

M. CONGACOU ALSO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE DAHOMEY GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE.