French Foreign Trade Secretary of State tours Africa
PANA

French Foreign Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Idrac, will fr om Monday visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Bénin, PANA reporte d Saturday, quoting official sources.

During her visit, from 8 to 11 February, Idrac will discuss preparations for the up-coming Africa-France summit, slated from 31 May to 1 June and devote most of

her mission to the private sector.

In DRC, Idrac will meet Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, as well as all ministers in charge of economic affairs before visiting Perenco oil infrastructures.

She will sign a business capacity reinforcement programme with the congolese emp loyers.

In Kenya, Idrac will meet Kenyan Prime Minister Raïla Odinga, as well as Financ e Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, to review the Copenhagen summit and the regional chal l enges in view of the South Sudan 2011 referendum.

The French Secretary of State will take part in the signing of the Agence Franç aise de Développement (AfD) for a loan aimed at the rehabilitation of the Nairo b i airport and will meet a mission of PROAVIA, a 15-company grouping, to examine t he business opportunities.

In Benin, she will register Paris' political support for President Yayi Boni for the conclusion of the next programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) .

The Secretary of State will attend the signing of the Convention on "Education f or All", on behalf of AfD's support to Beninese policy in favour of all children ' s education.

Idrac will hold a working meeting with the various political parties' leaders in Benin, as part of the preparations for the 2011 presidential elections.

The incumbent president was elected in March 2006.

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