DITRICT OF YAMOUSSOUKRO:ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES

On Friday 4 July, the Governor gave the local dressmakers who were victims of the big fire which destroyed the big market of Yamoussoukro during December 25, 2006 night 50 sewing machines. On the same occasion, as part of the private initiatives support funds, three (3) youth professional organizations received a total amount of CFA francs 5,654,000 ; ground nuts producers (CFA francs 500,000), cassava producing women (CFA francs 1,355,000) and attéké (steamed cassava couscous) saleswomen (CFA francs 3,799,400). Other actions to be added up for soon include the financing and training of 250 women (dressmakers, fresh fish sellers, loincloth sellers and market garden produce sellers). Upon the success of that pilot project will depend the financing of many others identical projects. On behalf of the recipients, Mr. Doumbia Ismaël, Head of the local representation of the traders’ federation (Fenacci), thanked the Governor and exhorted the women to a rapid refund of the loans, so as other groups or organizations may also benefit from this action.

During the board meeting, the Governor officially handed over the keys of the medical emergency care vehicle to the local firefighters. The District has helped in rehabilitating the vehicle, as it has not been operational for six years.

The main point on the agenda of the Board Meeting of the District of Yamoussoukro 2008 second working session held on July 5, 2008 at the Houphouët Boigny Peace Foundation is undoubtedly the Agropole of Yamoussoukro creation project (agriculture research and technology park). According to Mr. NDri Apollinaire, Governor of the District, this will be a “center where different actors from the agricultural, farming and breeding community can meet”, with a view to fostering permanent close relationships among the community: peasants, buyers, teachers and researchers, industrialists and others. He believes this could catalyze agricultural development in Yamoussoukro “for the respect of both the populations and environment, as well as     falling within the framework of sustainable development and prosperity.” Better, he states further, the Agropole could take into account the financing of many projects for youth and women in the rural community. As for the 2008 altered budget, it will be reduced by 505 million CFA francs.

In actual fact, the District of Yamoussoukro has so far had an annual functioning subsidy amounting to one billion two hundred seventy million CFA francs (CFA F 1,270,000,000), while its allotted budget for 2008, of which it was only informed in November 2007 by the state Department of Budget and Finance, has been reduced to one billion twenty five million CFA   francs (CFA F 1,025,000,000). The original budget has indeed been drawn up on this basis. Aware of the financial disequilibrium which might arise from that situation, a request was made to the General Officer in charge of Budget and Finance for an equilibrium budgetary backing.

Following formal assurances given, the treasury departments were tasked to take into account the gap amounting to two hundred forty five million CFA francs in the first altered budget. Yet, the authorized credit notification to the District shows nine hundred eighty million CFA francs (CFA F 980,000,000), thus resulting in a gap of two hundred ninety million CFA francs (CFA Francs 290,000,000) instead of two hundred forty five million CFA francs (CFA Francs 245,000,000).

Therefore, unlike the former budgets which were altered upwards, this 2008 second altered budget undergoes a reduction by five hundred five million CFA francs (CFA Francs 505,000,000)