• DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA ;
• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;
• DEAR GUESTS FROM COTE D’IVOIRE ;

We are particularly glad that Yamoussoukro, county town of the District, hosts from 10 to 13 June 2008, the XIIth session of the Conference of the Group of 77 at the United Nations and China.
As the Governor of the District, I take it as an urgent duty of mine to greet you and sincerely thank you for the distinguished honour by choosing to hold this important meeting in Yamoussoukro. The honour is even twice, as it is the first time that the conference is held on the African continent.

On behalf of the brave citizens of Yamoussoukro, I wish you the traditional “AKWABA”, which means a warm welcome; please be reassured of the immense gladness of Yamoussoukro, the Political and Administrative Capital city of Côte D’Ivoire.

Yamoussoukro, a lovely city, with the magical savannah scent, the cradle of a civilisation marked with generosity, hospitality, peace and love, stemming from ancient migrations; a blessed city with its prestigious Our Lady of Peace Basilica, great Mosque, Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Foundation, President Golf Club – one of the most attractive golf courses in Africa, holding 18 holes and integrated into the Hotel Président – and the Crocodile Lakes, is so proud to welcome you in.

Yamoussoukro also hosts the most prestigious academic institutions of the country, offering a wide array of Engineering programs, ranging from civil engineering and mining, agronomics, to business and administration, as well as a renowned high school, and for very soon the realization of the science & technology and agriculture research and development parks projects. The District of Yamoussoukro, a cosmopolitan city with its different communities originating from the sixty (60) or so ethnical groups of the country, and who live together in perfect harmony, has tremendous economic assets in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors altogether.

In addition, the District of Yamoussoukro has:

• important hydro-agricultural and -electrical dams covering thousand hectares of stable lakes favourable to the development of fishery
• a wildlife park at Abokouamékro awaiting restoration, covering 21 thousand hectares on one of the most attractive sites in Africa
• the great Kossou lake on which a swimming area building is planned

Ladies and Gentlemen
Distinguished delegates of the group of 77 at the UN and China
Dear Guests

Before I close my statement, and on behalf of the brave citizens of Côte D’Ivoire in general, and the District of Yamoussoukro in particular, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Executive Secretary of the group of 77 at the UN and China, as well as all the resourceful and generous personalities whose actions have contributed to the effective holding of the meeting.

The Côte D’Ivoire of late Président Félix Houphouët-Boigny, first President of the Republic, country of dialogue, world top cocoa producer,
The Côte D’Ivoire of His Excellency Laurent Gbagbo, President of the Republic, ready to take up new challenges towards Sustainable Development and Democracy,
it is this Côte d’Ivoire, and particularly the District of Yamoussoukro which I have the privilege to administrate, which welcomes you.
Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy your stay in Yamoussoukro.

I thank you.

N’Dri Appolinaire
Governor

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