Dakar, March 21 (APS) - The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) announced on Saturday its decision to conduct negotiations with electronic money issuing companies with a view to reducing costs transactions and encourage people to make greater use of digital means of payment to better limit contacts and travel.

The BCEAO has decided "to supply the banks with banknotes in sufficient quantity and quality, in order to enable them to ensure the satisfactory operation of automatic teller machines (GAB)", indicates a press release on the consequences of the coronavirus received at the 'APS.

It plans to organize, if necessary, the reorganization of the timetable for the issuance of public securities on the regional financial market, specifies the same source.

"The Central Bank reaffirms its determination to take any other measures that may prove necessary, within the framework of its mission, to counter the harmful effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economies of the Union", we read in the press release.

The West African Monetary Union (UMOA) is characterized by the recognition of the same monetary unit, the franc of the African Financial Community (F.CFA), the issue of which is entrusted to the BCEAO.

WAMU currently includes Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.