Ivory Coast's Ouattara replaces mines minister

ABIDJAN, March 1 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast President AlassaneOuattara replaced the industry and mines minister on Thursday,naming Trade Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba to fill theposition on an interim basis.

Diarrassouba replaces Jean-Claude Brou, who had served asindustry minister since 2012 and added the mining portfolio thefollowing year. Brou is leaving the government to becomepresident of the commission of regional bloc ECOWAS.

For decades, Ivory Coast largely neglected its miningpotential in favour of developing its agricultural commoditiessector. It is the world's leading cocoa producer.

Since Ouattara assumed office, the government has sought todiversify its economy, including passing one of Africa's mostbusiness-friendly mining codes.

The sector recorded revenues of 539 billion CFA francs($1.02 billion) last year, up from 483 billion in 2016, thegovernment announced in January.

Gold is the principal mining export with companies includingRandgold Resources, Toronto-listed Endeavourand Australia's Newcrest. Perseus Mining is toopen a gold mine in the first quarter of this year.

Ivory Coast also produces manganese, nickel and smallamounts of diamonds.(Reporting by Ange Aboa and Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing byJoe Bavier; Editing by Janet Lawrence)