Côte d’Ivoire wishes Canadian private investors increase their investments in different sectors in the country. This is what Emmanuel Essis Esmel, the prime minister’s secretary of state, indicated on October 8, 2018, during an economic mission of  Canadian businessmen in Côte d’Ivoire. “The volume of Canadian private investments in our country, notably in priority sectors of the 2016-2020 national development plan, is still low compared to the existing economic potential and Canada’s expertise in many sectors that Côte d’Ivoire is interested in”, he declared.  

The official revealed that out of an investment of more than CFA2,600 billion approved by Côte d’Ivoire’s investments promotion center (CEPICI) between 2013 and 2017, less than CFA1 billion ($2 million) was from Canada, ranking this partner as one of the smallest contributors to the volume of Foreign direct investments the institution recorded.

For Emmanuel Essis Esmel, this economic mission will contribute to the reversal of such situation by allowing the Canadian businessmen to discover the numerous business opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire notably, in sectors like factory farming, artificial agriculture, mining, infrastructures, water and sanitation, ICT, biotechnology and renewable energies sectors.

Flore Kacou