Meeting with Account Manager Mr. Maxime A. Assomou

Marine Foundation and SCI Marine (an agency of the Marine Foundation) are both registered into the BOA Banque of Africa in Abidjan. It was a wonderful pleasure to meet Director and Account Manager Mr. Assomou, who had the courtesy to make us feel very welcome. It is very important for the Marine Foundation to share its vision with the establishments we would work with since our purpose needs to be known as to the support of the development of economy wherever the organization is registered. Mr. Assomou was very pleased to hear of us, Mrs. Koura N. Ouattara President of Africa and Mr. Tomeo M-Gressard, founder. 

BOA is a well-established bank in the continent and is partly owned by the BMCE bank. It has banking operations in 18 African countries.  In 2008, Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) took a 35% shareholding interest in AFH, which had rebranded to Bank of Africa Group, bringing much needed financial capital and banking expertise to the group.

His Excellency Governor Beugre Mambe

Just before the event, (Grand Opening Marine Foundation Africa) His Excellency Govern of Abidjan had the kindness to make time for a short welcoming session together. He clearly mentioned that the Marine Foundation’s vision is suited to the region and therefore we are so welcome to start operations here. Projects that mean good for the city are most expected and notably in the realm of education.

His Excellency has a background in civil engineering, it is going convenient to bring to Abidjan with the best feasibility study group from Japan I am aware of. Abidjan is a beautiful city and I can clearly understand the ambition of pulling the city to become a haven for tourism and a place of great gatherings.

To be here today, on such short notice was truly a blessing and I can really appreciate all that our President Mrs. Ouattara has done to make this possible, alongside President Siama Bamba. I really look forward to the development of the port Abidjan and its maritime industries.

His Excellency Vice President Bakary Maguraga

Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cote D’Ivoire is truly the providential call for a great Brother to the Marine Foundation since most of his desires for his country matches the Marine Foundation’s programs in design, programs, and application. Furthermore, Vice President Maguraga is so well acquainted with the fishing industry as involved with the type of commerce for the past 30 years before he became Vice-President of the Chamber.

I truly felt here the heart of Cote D’Ivoire’s real potential for growth along with the development of its economy. Marine Foundation has engineered a few commercial initiatives which first starts as programs through “agency set up”. Therefore the Marine Development Agency (MDA) which promises to help boost the economy through a transfer of technologies and establish a “Made in Africa” brand product development. This kind of planning does not exist anywhere and we would be so proud to demonstrate the procedure in our beautiful headquarters of Africa which represents Cote D’Ivoire and the Leadership of President Koura N. Ouattara. But always alongside with helping us with meeting all these incredible people, our marvelous brother, His Excellency President Siama Bamba, stood by our side. (Photo on the right) 

Today, one of the first meetings on my first day in Abidjan, was the honor to meet with the Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Eugene Aka Aouele. A great revelation indeed and certainly a most important person in Africa where lots of our projects and programs are directed towards health and medical sciences. I was happy to introduce some of the geniuses in Japan who have come with some solutions with problems such as Malaria and HIV. It would be up to me to bring these people to Africa but firstly we would develop a strategy to announce, protect and publicize the arrival of such people through our “Health Development Agency”, which is a Marine Foundation agency. 

Dr. Aouele was very receptive to our programs concept and certainly, he did mention he would welcome our efforts to support his ministry. Truly, I felt it would difficult such high-status government person, but realizing this is due to the great dexterity of our President Koura N. Ouattara, and her graceful communication, that everything is made possible, and therefore allowing the Marine Foundation to operate in this marvelous country.  After our meeting the Minister had to fly to Ghana, regretting that the could not attend the next day ceremony at the town hall of Abidjan. Truly it was a warm welcome from His Excellency’s office and I am always touched by the humility and kindness demonstrated to a person like me, a “new kid in the block” might we say, nevertheless, here with a great system planning for good of the country. 

Unforgettable welcome in Abidjan. Thanks to Mrs. Ouattara and His Excellency Governor Siama Bamba.

Of course, I was advised in advance that there would be a reception upon my arrival in Abidjan, but I have never thought in my wildest dreams that it would be as what I have seen. I am so grateful for such a beautiful heart from such beautiful people. Koura N. Ouattara our president in Cote d’Ivoire had thought of everything, and supported by the wonderful Governor of the region, His Excellency Bamba, it made it all so official and really at the level of great diplomacy as seen on presidential welcoming sessions. This was really something.

What was most touching to the heart was the children and their offerings of flowers. Some of them in traditional costumes and others, like the 2 daughters of Koura wearing the cap and shirts with Marine Foundation’s logos on it. There are many people to introduce and most of them in the photos below but I will carefully run through the names as soon as I settle a little more time in making sure I am not making spelling errors.

From the airport, we drove to the “Golf Hotel Abidjan” where I will be staying for 4 nights. Truly it was also the making the President Bamba who gave his unconditional support to Koura. Amazing. Just amazing and therefore I do not have many words to speak except a deep feeling of gratefulness and joy to be present here in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.