DELEGATES TALKING, INCLUDING THOSE FROM CONGO, GABON, AND NIGER.




Initials MA/V/JH/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONS WHICH OWN AIR AFRIQUE HAVE BEEN MEETING AT ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST, TO REVIEW THE YEAR'S ACTIVITIES.

TOGO, THE LATEST COUNTRY TO JOIN THE CONSORTIUM, WAS FORMALLY WELCOMED TO THE MEETING, WHICH THIS YEAR WAS UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE IVORY COAST MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT, M. ALCIDE KACOU.

THE AIRLINE, WHICH IS JOINTLY-OWNED, HAD AN INCOME IN 1967 OF 13,977 MILLION CFA FRANCS (23 MILLION STERLING) AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 12 PER CENT ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR. EXPENSES AMOUNTED TO 12,670 MILLION CFA (21 MILLION STERLING) - AN INCREASE OF 11.7 PER CENT.

THE AIRLINE FINISHED THE YEAR WITH A PROFIT OF 1,306 MILLION CFA FRANCS (ABOUT GBP2 MILLION STERLING). THE MEETING DECIDED TO SPEND SOME OF THE PROFITS ON A DC-8 AIRLINER.