HINDUS ARRIVES; TOURING PLANTATION.




Initials GM/VS/JF/JG



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Background: THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE JOINT IVORY COAST - EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY COUNCIL IN THE FRAMEWORK OF 'OPERATION PALM OIL' OPENED THIS WEEK IN ABIDJAN. THE EEC'S DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT, MR. HINDUS, FLEW INTO ABIDJAN ON WEDNESDAY TO ATTEND THE MEETING. FOLLOWING HIS ARRIVAL HE VISITED THE SODEPLAM PALM OIL PLANTATION AT ANGEDEDOU, WHERE THE FIRST PALM TREE WAS PLANTED LAST NOVEMBER BY PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BIOGNY.

AMONG THOSE GREETING MR. HINDUS AT THE AIRPORT WAS SODEPALM'S CHAIRMAN, MR. JOSEPH ANOMA.

THE FUNCTION OF THE JOINT COUNCIL IS TO SEE THAT 'OPERATION PALM OIL' WORKS SMOOTHLY. THE PROJECT IS SAID TO BE THE BIGGEST EVER FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND. IT IS EXPECTED TO ENABLE THE IVORY COAST TO PRODUCE AN AVERAGE OF 100,000 TONS OF PALM OIL ANNUALLY.