Trade between Ivory Coast and China have almost increased sixfold over the past two years. This was disclosed by the Ivoirian minister of Trade, Craftsmanship and SME support, Souleymane Diarrassouba (photo), who highlighted that the trade soared to $8.85 billion in 2016, from $1.44 billion in 2014.

According to the official, the figures make “China Ivory Coast’s first supplier and third trade partner”. While talking at the launch of the Chamber of Commerce of Chinese Companies in Ivory Coast (Chambre de commerce des entreprises chinoises de Côte d’Ivoire or CCEC), the minister added that the new entity will help “boost bilateral trade between the countries and promote sharing of knowledge and technologies that will benefit them both, as well as improve partnership with the Ivorian private sector”, Xinhua reports.

CCEC regroups 40 Chinese companies that operate in various sectors, ranging from ICT to Energy.

Aaron Akinocho