CONGO-KINSHASA: FOREIGN MINISTER BOMBOKO CLOSES FIRST INTERNATIONAL FAIR IN KINSHASA

Record ID: 358319

  • Title: CONGO-KINSHASA: FOREIGN MINISTER BOMBOKO CLOSES FIRST INTERNATIONAL FAIR IN KINSHASA
  • Date: 31st July 1969
  • Summary: FLAGS; FAIR; RUMANIAN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT; JAPANESE VEHICLES; GREEK MACHINERY; BOMBOKO AND HARMEL; MOBUTU AND WIFE; HARMEL GREETS MOBUTU; GUESTS; GUARD OF HONOUR; BOMBOKO ADDRESSES GATHERING; CROWD. Initials JH/VS/AS/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th August 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KINSHASA, CONGO-KINSHASA
  • City:
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Reuters ID: LVA1VD6WSY7B1VLKEL9VFXLNMSTT
  • Story Text: FOREIGN MINISTER JUSTIN MARIE BOMBOKO OF CONGO-KINSHASA LAST WEEK (21 JULY) CLOSED THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FAIR IN THE CONGOLESE CAPITAL. THIRTY COUNTRIES EXHIBITED AT THE FAIR WHICH OPENED ON JUNE 30, THE CONGO'S NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE, AND CLOSED ON JULY 21, BELGIUM'S NATIONAL DAY. THE FAIR WAS CONGO-KINSHASA'S FIRST AND WAS A JOINT BELGIAN-CONGOLESE PROJECT.

    AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY, M. BOMBOKO ANNOUNCED THAT A SECOND KINSHASA FAIR WOULD BE HELD IN 1971 AND A NATIONAL FAIR ORGANISED IN 1970.

    M. BOMBOKO SAID THAT THE FAIR REPRESENTED SUCCESS FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY AND THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE. THE FAIR ALSO SERVED AS A SIGN OF TRIUMPH FOR THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH IT, THE MINISTER SAID.

    BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PIERRE HARMEL PRAISED THE CONGO'S NEW INVESTMENT CODE IN A SPEECH DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY.

    "THIS CODE," HE SAID, "AND I HOPE TO BE HEARD A LONG WAY OFF -- IS EQUITABLE, FOR IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN EXISTING AND NEW ENTERPRISES BETWEEN RESIDENT AND NOW-RESIDENTS.

    "ABOVE ALL YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR GUARANTEES OF TRANSFER FOR CAPITAL AND INCOME, WHATEVER MAY BE THE FUTURE EVOLUTION OF YOUR FISCAL REGIME", M. HARMEL SAID.

    AMONG THESE PRESENT DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONIES WAS CONGOLESE PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE.

    FOUR FOREIGN DELEGATIONS AND NUMEROUS MINISTERS AND DELEGATION VISITED THE FAIR. MORE THAN 600,000 PEOPLE WERE ADMITTED INCLUDING 290,000 PAYING ADULTS AND MANY CHILDREN.

    AMONG THE EXHIBITS WAS A JOINT PAVILION OF THE EUROPEAN SIX AND THE AFRO-MALAGASY 18. IN ADDITION, MANY OTHER AFRICAN AND ASIAN NATIONS EXHIBITED AT THE FAIR.

    THE EXHIBITS INCLUDED AGRICULTURAL AND ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT, TELE-COMMUNICATION AREAS, AIRCRAFT AND VEHICLES. THERE WAS ALSO A CONGOLESE NATIONAL PAVILION, A DISPLAY OF THE COUNTRY'S NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
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