Côte d’Ivoire / UNOCI chief receives President of Ivorian Chamber of Commerce
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, February 9, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, Bert Koenders, received the President of Côte d’Ivoire’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jean-Louis Billion, on Wednesday 8 February at the headquarters of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in Abidjan.
The two men discussed the general economic situation in Côte d’Ivoire and how the economy can be a factor for development, national reconciliation, and a lasting resolution of the crisis.
« UNOCI was in Côte d’Ivoire much more for security matters, now it’s involved in economic and social development, » Billon said. “We need that to rebuild unity, and the nation in general.” He explained that during their discussions, he gave the UNOCI chief his perspectives on Côte d’Ivoire’s social and political life. “It’s important not to have only the points of view of the politicians. It’s good to have those of civil society and the business sector”.
Mr. Billon stressed that this first meeting was the start of a closer, more sustained relationship between UNOCI and the Chamber of Commerce. “Already, on 5 March next, we’ll have the economic forum at the headquarters of UNOCI with economic operators and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” he added.
Giving his opinion on the Ivorian economy, Mr. Billon said it was reawakening after 10 years of lethargy and the recent post-election crisis, which seriously affected it. He noted that businesses always paid the heaviest price in crises and were permanent victims thereof. “Let us jump start the economy once more. We are in the phase of economic rebirth and we can hope, in 2013, to be fully in the phase of extension, of development, which will cover the entire national territory,” he said.
SOURCE
Mission of UN in Côte d’Ivoire
