ACA Discusses African Cashew Industry with H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire

ACA gained a high-profile new supporter when President of Côte d’Ivoire H.E. Alassane Ouattara spoke with ACA representatives at the opening of the new Olam processing plant in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire on 23 February. H.E. Ouattara had chaired the official inauguration ceremony of the factory and unveiled the commemorative plaque of the event in front of about 400 guests. The Minister of Industry Dosso Moussa and the Minister of Justice Jeannot Ahoussou Kouadio also attended with other high level personalities from public and private sector. The officials, including H.E. Ouattara, then visited the ACi/ACA booth where Xénia Défontaine, ACA Public Relations Manager, explained the objectives of the African Cashew Alliance and the ACi project. President Ouattara and his ministers stated that a strong Ivorian cashew processing industry is a key component of their vision for Côte d’Ivoire to become an emerging economy that exports predominantly manufactured products by 2020.

ACA Public Relations Manager Xenia Defontaine (second from left) introduces ACA to H.E. Alassane Ouattara as Olam CEO Sunny Verghese (far right) looks on