NABC and Côte d'Ivoire
In October 2023, the NABC facilitated a regional trade mission to the Salon International de l’Agriculture et des Ressources Animales (SARA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in cooperation with RVO and the Dutch embassies in Francophone West Africa. For a group of 50 agribusiness entrepreneurs from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Benin, and Chad, NABC and Yiriwa Intercontinental Consulting organised stands under the Netherlands pavilion, workshops and seminars, matchmaking with Dutch companies, and field visits, which led to valuable insights and concrete collaborations on sustainable agriculture solutions.
At the invitation of the Dutch Government, the Ivorian Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MIRAH) took part in a poultry mission to the Netherlands from April 18 to 23, 2022. The mission objective was for the Ivorian participants to become acquainted with the development of the Dutch poultry sector through meetings and visits respectively with Dutch experts and operators in the poultry sector.
In 2021, NABC hosted an Inspiration, Knowledge-Sharing and Matchmaking visit to Egypt. NABC’s Managing Director Rosmarijn Fens led a group of 12 Dutch companies who delved into the climate-resilient agricultural opportunities of Egypt. During the visit, an MoU was signed with the Egyptian African Businessmen’s Association.
In November-December 2019, NABC coordinated two trade missions to the SARA (Salon de l’Agriculture et des Ressources Animales) in Abidjan: one in collaboration with Hortifresh and Inclsve (horticulture) and one in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Dutch Embassy in Abidjan (poultry and horticulture).
In November 2018, NABC coordinated an agricultural trade mission to Côte d’Ivoire at the AgroFood West Africa, commissioned by RVO.
Investment climate
‘For the last 5 years, Cote d’Ivoire’s growth rate has been among the highest in the world,’ according to the CIA’s World Factbook. Its economy has proven to be resilient to the Covid-19 pandemic and stands now as one of the fastest grozing economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It had a 6.4% GDP growth in 2023. Agriculture and horticulture offer the greatest opportunities, as well as port development (Abidjan and San Pedro). The agricultural sector is growing. Côte d’Ivoire’s main export products are oil, cocoa and coffee. The maritime sectors, as well as fruits and vegetables are also compelling.
Local processing of agricultural products is growing. The country has had a stable growth of about 7% for several years. It has seen an improvement in its business climate, a relatively calm political situation and a growing number of investments. While doing business in Côte d’Ivoire, good knowledge of French is important. One of the challenges to be aware of is high price fluctuations, while production depends on climatic conditions.
Côte d’Ivoire has successfully implemented its part of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor in agreement with Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo which aims at facilitating the free flow of goods and people as well as supporting regional integration in Coastal West Africa. The country is also part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).
The country remains a favorable destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). Just in 2022, it attracted $1.58bn in FDI inflows, above the ones recorded prior to the pandemic. The government welcomes FDI and supports investment in state-owned enterprises that the government is privatising.
Investment Climate Key Indicators & Metrics
| Measure | Year | Index/Rank |
| TI Corruption Perceptions Index | 2023 | 87 out of 180 |
| Economic Freedom Index
|
2024
|
91 out of 184
|
| Global Innovation Index | 2023 | 112 out of 132 |
Diplomatic Relations
The Netherlands
Embassy
The Netherlands is represented in Côte d’Ivoire via its embassy in the capital Abidjan led by Ambassador Mr. Jeroen Kelderhuis.
Côte d'Ivoire
Embassy
Côte d’Ivoire is represented in the Netherlands via its embassy in The Hague, led by Ambassador Mr. Mifougo Youssouf Diarrassouba.
Webinars
April 30th, 2020. Doing Business in Côte d’Ivoire. The recording is available via our YouTube channel.
Reports
Mattijs Renden
- Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Tanzania
- mattijs.renden@nabc.nl