On November 24, 2009 member companies of the "Sustainable Development" Commission of the Comité des Investisseurs Français en Afrique (CIAN) gathered at the SOMDIAA headquarters for a forum organized by that working group.

The African private sector was fairly represented by groups including CFAO, AIR LIQUIDE, COMPAGNIE FRUITIERE, GEOPOST INTERCONTINENTAL, ROUGIER, CAITA/IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP, TOTAL, VINCI CONSTRUCTIONS and the SOMDIAA as well as the banking industry with the BANK OF AFRICA GIE, and associations such as the NGO CARE France.

The SOMDIAA Group took the opportunity to announce its commitments in terms of societal responsibility and present its actions taking place more specifically in the areas of health and safety at work.

Then the COMPAGNIE FRUITIERE and CARE France made their own presentations, respectively entitled "Stakes, actions and opportunities" and "NGO partnerships - Companies - towards the co-creation of value".

This second annual convention proved another opportunity for the attending companies to discuss and share on experiences and grassroots actions undertaken in terms of societal and environmental responsibility.

Let us remember that the SOMDIAA has been represented within the CIAN Board of Administration since 2005. Since March 2009 SOMDIAA CEO Alexandre VILGRAIN has chaired that major organization.