Discusses key economic indicators and trade statistics, which countries are dominant in the market, the U.S. market share, the political situation if relevant, the top reasons why U.S. companies should consider exporting to this country, and other issues that affect trade, e.g., terrorism, currency devaluations, trade agreements.
Last Published: 3/26/2019
Côte d’Ivoire is lone of the most dynamic economies in West Africa and key to unlocking the francophone Sub-Saharan Africa market.  The economy averaged over 8 percent economic growth from 2012-2017, and strong growth is expected to continue through 2020.  This positive outlook is underpinned by an improved political environment and stable inflation.  The Government of Côte d’Ivoire (GOCI) supports private sector-led growth and has worked hard to improve its investment climate and build economic infrastructure to allow businesses to thrive.  The country welcomes foreign investment and hopes to attract more than $37.5 billion in private sector investments through public-private partnerships to implement its 2016-2020 National Development Plan (NDP).  The NDP aims to boost sustained and inclusive growth through proposed large infrastructure projects, driven by the private sector.  Côte d’Ivoire is a lower middle income country with a growing consumer class supporting a vibrant retail and restaurant sector. Côte d'Ivoire has been a business and transportation hub for the entire West African region since the early 1960s.  After the end of the 2011 political crisis, Côte d’Ivoire’s economy has rebounded sharply, resulting in 7.7 percent GDP growth in 2016 and 7.8 percent GDP growth in 2017.  Robust growth is expected to continue with forecasts of 7.4 percent GDP growth in 2018 and 7.1 percent GDP growth in 2019. 

The GOCI has implemented measures to strengthen transparency, improve governance and attract businesses.  A new commercial court was created to help ensure impartiality and accelerate dispute resolution.  The GOCI enacted mining and telecommunication codes to improve the operational environment for businesses in those sectors and plans to update the investment code in 2018. Côte d’Ivoire’s mining potential is significant, with untapped resources, including gold, copper, iron ore, manganese, bauxite and diamonds.  In April 2014, the United Nations Security Council lifted the diamond export ban that had been in place since 2005.  Recent oil discoveries have been made in the Gulf of Guinea and major projects are underway to boost the country’s hydroelectric and thermal power capacity.  Numerous business opportunities exist in agribusinesses, especially value-added processing of cocoa, cashews, rubber, cotton, palm oil and rice.  Other opportunities exist in the sale of construction equipment and machinery; power generation; oil, gas and mining exploration; and infrastructure development.  Côte d’Ivoire is a beneficiary country under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
 

    Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.



    C te d Ivoire Trade Development and Promotion