Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COTONOU655
2008-10-20 06:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:  

BENIN: GOVERNMENT DIVESTS COTTON GINNING COMPANY

Tags:  EAGR ECON EINV PGOV BN 
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VZCZCXRO9221
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0655 2940603
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200603Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0594
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1331
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0380
UNCLAS COTONOU 000655 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK; DLOCKHART
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR (LAGAMA)
DAKAR FOR FAS (RHANSON)
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA

C O R R E C T E D COPY (CORRECTED SUBJECT LINE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON EINV PGOV BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: GOVERNMENT DIVESTS COTTON GINNING COMPANY

REF: A) COTONOU 809, B) 07 COTONOU 874

UNCLAS COTONOU 000655

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK; DLOCKHART
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR (LAGAMA)
DAKAR FOR FAS (RHANSON)
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA

C O R R E C T E D COPY (CORRECTED SUBJECT LINE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON EINV PGOV BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: GOVERNMENT DIVESTS COTTON GINNING COMPANY

REF: A) COTONOU 809, B) 07 COTONOU 874


1. On September 18, the GOB announced the successful divestiture of
the cotton ginning activities of the agricultural parastatal,
SONAPRA. The SCP, ("Societe Commune de Participation") was
provisionally declared successful bidder. They will create a
public-private joint venture called SDC ("Societe pour le
Development du Cotton") and hold 33.5% of its capital. The GOB and
the public respectively will hold 33.5 percent and 33 percent of the
shares of the new ginning company.


2. In early November 2007, the GOB cancelled the completed process
of divestiture that had led to the selection of the same bidder, on
the grounds that the privatization process was plagued with
irregularities (Ref B). Post will give full details of this
divestiture process as soon as the GOB announces finalization of the
deal.

BOUSTANI