• Côte d’Ivoire, Turkey’s Sila Health sign $120M healthcare deal

• Project aims to boost Abidjan’s role as regional medical hub

Côte d’Ivoire secured a $120 million investment commitment from Sila Health, a Turkish medical technology firm, on the sidelines of the 5th Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum.

The investment is earmarked for the construction of a cutting-edge analytical laboratory and an ultramodern medical imaging center in the capital, Abidjan, according to a report by the newspaper Fraternité Matin on Thursday, October 16, 2025. The project aims to improve the quality of healthcare available, reduce expensive medical evacuations abroad, and position Côte d’Ivoire as a "high-performing regional health hub."

The announcement reflects strengthening cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and Turkey, marked by intensified economic, diplomatic, and technical exchanges. Recent initiatives include the visit of the Ivorian Transport Minister to Istanbul in August 2025, followed by a Turkish economic mission to Abidjan focused on infrastructure in September.

For several years, Turkey has pursued a strategy in Africa aimed at securing promising economic opportunities and fostering durable, inclusive cooperation, with a focus on sectors including transport, construction, commerce, and defense.

According to the Côte d'Ivoire Investment Promotion Center (CEPICI), Turkish companies accounted for 7% of foreign direct investment in the country in 2023. Bilateral trade between Ankara and Yamoussoukro also saw notable growth, rising from $733 million in 2020 to $813 million in 2024, based on International Trade Centre (ITC) data.

Charlène N’dimon