Cote d ivoire

Banana-producing members of OCAB, the central organisation of banana and pineapple exporter-producers in Côte d'Ivoire, have reacted strongly to recent events concerning the fruit terminal in Abidjan, according to a report from L'Infodrome.

During a meeting last week, members reportedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the conduct of SCB-Compagnie Fruitière, behaviour that they regard as an attempt to gain control of the terminal from SMPA and create a monopoly.

'Today, while the European Union is helping to revive new national operators, while OCAB is upping its efforts to attract new sizeable investors in bananas and pineapples and while OCAB's producer members are developing their activities, it would be illogical to allow this tool, which serves all, to fall into the hands of one of the many subsidiaries of Compagnie Fruitière,' OCAB's members were quoted as stating.

What the banana producers reportedly want from Compagnie Fruitière, which has already made considerable investments in Côte d'Ivoire, is to play a leading and unifying role for the country's fruit sector.