Governor Kaniki of the Congo-Kinshasa province of Bandundu,has been conducting a new economic development drive.

He recently spent eight days at Vanga conducting a seminar for local administrators on the problems of exploiting local resources.

In rice cultivation, Congo-Kinshasa is getting considerable aid from Taiwan's agricultural experts. Extending this help, which has been given even on the President's own estate, was discussed during President Mobutu's recent visit to Taiwan.

Congo-Kinshasa produced 50,000 metric tons of rice in 1967, the last year for which figures are available.

SYNOPSIS: On a recent tour of the province of Bandundu, Governor Kaniki stopped at Bulungu, new capital of Kwilu district, where the local people gave him a warm welcome. Governor Kaniki was on his way to Vanga on a special mission to promote the development of Bandundu province which has very great economic potential. During his eight days at the Vanga Protestant mission, Governor Kaniki held a seminar for local commissioners and administrators. He told them, as the responsible people in the territory, to do everything possible to ensure the rapid development of the province.

The raising of pigs was particularly mentioned as having a good future...especially using the new strains which had been bred to suit local conditions. Rice cultivation is also giving promising results in the Kikwit marsh districts.

Building on this modest start, agricultural advisers from Taiwan are to visit the district to apply the techniques of rice production which have proved so fruitful at the President's estate at Nsele.