Aga Khan Signs Ivory Coast Investment Deal

Dow Jones International News Service via Dow Jones

ABIDJAN (AP)--Ismaili Muslim leader and philanthropist Prince Karim Aga Khan IV signed a deal Wednesday with Ivory Coast President Henri Konan Bedie to expand investments in the west African country.

The cooperation agreement, which formalizes Aga Khan development projects in Ivory Coast, paves the way for new projects in the health, housing, education and environment sectors.

Since 1965, the Agha Khan Development Network has been involved in cultivating and processing jute, and building packaging and aluminum tile producing facilities. The Geneva-based network has resources of more than $750 million worldwide and has investments in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In West Africa, he also has come to the development aid of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

'We have always invested in the development of men and women and it is this extent of the notion of development that I would like to see expanded in our relations with the Ivorian government,' the Aga Khan said.

Earlier Wednesday, the Aga Khan met senior government ministers.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires 04-03-98


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