London and Abidjan are getting closer

London and Abidjan are getting closer

The UK-Cte d’Ivoire Business Forum, the first Ivorian-British economic forum, opened this Thursday, March 24, 2022 in Abidjan in the presence of a strong delegation of the Ivorian government.

UK-Cte d’Ivoire Forum: 427.2 billion FCFA in the volume of economic exchanges in 2020-2021

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Adama Koulibaly, reaffirmed in Abidjan on Thursday, March 24, 2022, the commitment of Cte d’Ivoire, to revive and strengthen trade ties with the United Kingdom, given the significant economic potential of the two countries .

Leading up to the official opening of the first United Kingdom – Cte d’Ivoire Business Forum, at the Noume Hotel in the Plateau, Prime Minister Patrick Achi’s representative spoke of the measures taken to clean up the country and facilitate the business environment. , before calling on British businessmen to join them in their development vision.

“All the reforms have enabled Cte d’Ivoire to become one of the most dynamic economies in the African continent and the world, with an average growth rate of 8% over the period 2012-2019. In less than 10 years, our per resident The wealth has doubled, making Cte d’Ivoire one of the leading countries in West Africa”, continued Adama Koulibaly.

The 2030 Vision set out in the 2030-2025 National Development Plan is to move Cte ​​d’Ivoire to the status of an upper-middle-income country with the majority of the middle class population by 2030, one he said, noting that the average for this Per capita income should increase from about $2,314 (USD -2010) to about $4,000 in 2020.

To achieve this, the country must commit to a transformative vision of the economy and society through increased growth and inclusive and sustainable development. That is why he invited the United Kingdom to build “a locomotive for the development of Africa” ​​with Cte d’Ivoire, to transform it “into a land of modernity and opportunities” and to make it “a sub-regional center and”. invited to An important and dynamic link between Africa and the world”. And this, by supporting it in the development of road, airport, port, energy and industrial infrastructure.

Earlier, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Cte d’Ivoire, Catherine Brooker recalled that the initiative of this forum was presided over by two events. It is a win-win partnership offering launched by the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson at the end of the Africa Investment Summit in January 2020, and the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (APE) between Cte d’Ivoire and Cte d’Ivoire. United Kingdom in October 2020.

The diplomat said that the economic exchange between the two countries is 547 million pounds sterling (427.2 billion FCFA) in 2020-2021. His country’s cooperation with Cte d’Ivoire, among other things, the construction of six hospitals in the northern half, government assistance in the organization of COP 15 on desertification, scheduled for 9-20 May, geospatial assistance, against deforestation Fighting and Promoting the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative.

She wanted this business forum organized by the kaizen firm, which is divided into panels and bilateral meetings, to be dynamic, build direct links between companies, impart skills and lead to long-term commitments between the two countries on world affairs. .

A de facto meeting place for economic exchange, the forum that brings together more than 200 participants provides a platform to share new partnerships and investment opportunities between the United Kingdom and Cte d’Ivoire.

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