It is reported that AFRUIBANA has been officially launched in Brussels during a visit by Cameroon Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, to European institutions on Wednesday, 19th of July. AFRUIBANA, according to reports is a new association of fruit producers and exporters from three African countries -Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
According to reports, AFRUIBANA has been received in the agriculture sector with warmth as it is expected to allow fruit producers on the continent to combine their efforts with a view to having their voices heard better in international trade.
In addition, as stated in the press release telling about the launch, AFRUIBANA is an association established under Cameroonian law and gathers several representatives of producers and exporters from different sub-Saharan countries, notably Assobacam, the Cameroon banana industry association, and OBAMCI, an Ivory Coast organisation of producers and exporters of bananas, pineapples, mangoes and other fruits.
Reports reveal that, in Brussels, AFRUIBANA has thus become the permanent representative of a community of fruit producers and exporters across Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Ghana. The association will thus take steps to support competitiveness and export fruits to EU countries. It will also serve as an interface between producers in the sector and European institutions to secure financing and support for African fruit growers. AFRUIBANA also has a key role in the representation and advocacy for asserting the quality and importance of agro-industrial value chains across the African continent in terms of economy, social affairs and environmental impact.
“A number of future European political decisions are of a strategic importance for African producers. AFRUIBANA’s role is therefore to raise awareness among European decision-makers about the interest of maintaining and developing African farming not only to continue exporting quality bananas but also to develop the economy in our countries by shoring up rural employment and family-run farms”, explains Jean-Marie Kacou Gervais, Vice-Chairman of AFRUIBANA.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office announce the appointment of Mrs Jessica Hands as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Angola and non-resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of S&o Tome and Principe. This appointment, which will take effect from February 2018, is said to be in replace of Mr John Dennis, who, according to report, will take up another diplomatic service position.
Correspondent: Ridwan A. Olayiwola
