This summary was prepared by Whitehouse & Associates for the African Resource Network.
The Cote d’Ivoire has long been one of the success stories of Africa. The stability of the country and the aggressive macro-economic reforms undertaken by the government in order to diversify the economy away from reliance on cocoa and coffee made this a favoured destination for international investors in West Africa. The December coup, which saw President Henri Konan Bedie taken from office, seems to have passed without too much disruption and the situation has not deterred to many investors.
The Cote d’Ivoire has been one of South Africa’s largest trading partners in Africa for many years and in some ways also represents a missed opportunity. South Africa’s trade with the Cote d’Ivoire has not developed as fast as it should. This is possibly because South African’s tend to feel “uncomfortable” doing business in West Africa. Language is a problem and companies often come nose to nose with French competitors who have been doing business in the region for years.
Traders need to take a wider perspective when looking at this market at it is perfectly positioned to provide a base for West African business. From the Cote d’Ivoire, it is easy to service the surrounding markets of Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea.
