Côte d’Ivoire: a growing business partner in western Africa

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Côte d’Ivoire is a small country compared to China, but is fast growing in every sense. China should keep Côte D’Ivoire in mind as it plays a big role in Africa, and its influence in the region is gaining momentum. Numerous recent high level business and diplomatic exchanges have strengthened this relationship. We spoke to Mr Adama Dosso, Ambassador to China for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire about his country’s growing potential.

Côte d’Ivoire’s growth has been above 10% recently, among the highest in the world.
Yes. When President Ouattara took office in 2011, our country was in a bad way with -4% GDP growth. He has implemented sweeping structural reforms to encourage FDI, including a new investment code as well as reforms to the mining, forestry, water and tourism sectors. We have twice been placed in the top 10 countries in terms of business reform and today we have growth of 11%. Our economy represents 40% of the west African economic and monetary union’s GDP, making us the second economic power in western Africa after Nigeria.

What other successes have there been?
Health, roads and education are all much improved. Thanks to this, the country is at peace, and the up-coming elections in October 2015 will take place in a relaxed environment. If re-elected President Ouattara would strengthen the fight against corruption and continue to improve vital public services and infrastructure. This will reinforce Côte d’Ivoire’s role as an economic driving force in the region.

Please describe China and the Côte d’Ivoire’s diplomatic relationship.
Relations have been strong since they were established in 1983. Our minister of foreign affairs and minister of defence have made the trip, and China’s deputy foreign affairs minister has been to Côte d’Ivoire. These visits demonstrate a healthy relationship.

Please explain the attractiveness of the “Invest in Côte d’Ivoire” conference for Chinese investors.
Chinese investment in our country is already very substantial, particularly in vital sectors such as energy, health and education. The People’s Republic is our primary partner in Asia and third overall in the world behind France and Morocco. To build on this, in November we are hosting a series of information sessions directed at Chinese businesses and the China-Africa Development Fund. These themes will be developed at the Invest in Côte d’Ivoire conference in January 2016. We think that it is the private sector that is most important when it comes to developing wealth, and China has an incredibly dynamic and powerful private sector.

What opportunities are there for Chinese businesses?
We have great potential in raw materials, particularly agricultural goods such as coffee and cocoa. Abidjan is a key financial centre in western Africa and our ports make us a hub for trade. The government has plans to build a dry port in the north of the country, giving access through to inland western Africa. The Félix-Houphouët-Boigny airport is the second biggest in western Africa. We also aim to be a great energy producer. We are one of the rare countries where over a third of our population are non-nationals, and we plan to continue benefitting from our international outlook.