Côte d’Ivoire as a market

Côte d’Ivoire is among the largest exporters of goods in Sub-Saharan Africa. The value of Côte d’Ivoire’s overall import is outweighed by its value of export, meaning Côte d’Ivoire has a structural trade surplus. In regards to the export, unprocessed cocoa is dominating, making Côte d’Ivoire’s external position vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Agro-industrial processing within the cocoa sector especially then creates incentives for business and growth. Meanwhile, domestic production levels depend on weather conditions. Another interesting sector of the Market in Côte d’Ivoire, as a source of growth, is the service sector, dominated by transport, telecommunications, trade, and tourism. ^{_{Source: Oxford Economics, Country Economic Forecast – Côte d’Ivoire: February 2022}}

Trade between Côte d’Ivoire and Denmark

In 2021, the top import from Côte d’Ivoire to Denmark was oil seeds and oleaginous fruits. Whereas the top commodity export from Denmark to Côte d’Ivoire in 2021 was meat and meat preparations, followed by Beverages, and Organic Chemicals. In 2017, the main Danish exports to Côte d’Ivoire were machinery and electronic equipment, food, and chemicals and textiles – all still among the main exports. The major Danish imports (2017) from Côte d’Ivoire were manufactures, agricultural raw materials and textiles. _{^{(Statistikbanken)}}

ECOWAS, AfCFTA, and political situation

Côte d’Ivoire is a major player in regional integration in West Africa, and is a high-performing country in the region of Africa and first in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), particularly in terms of trade integration, productive integration and infrastructure integration. With the establishment of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018, some member countries struggle to fit to terms because of their economic, political and/or judicial structure, however, Côte d’Ivoire has developed a national strategy to enable it to benefit from the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA. ^{_{Source: Côte d’Ivoire | African Development Bank - Building today, a better Africa tomorrow (afdb.org). See report for download.}}

Following box from an African Development Bank Group report (June 2021) sums up analysed strenghts and weaknesses of Côte d’Ivoire’s market ^{_{(See report for download)}}

Côte d’Ivoire is gradually recovering after a long period of crisis and civil unrest, but recent election in 2021 shows some improved electoral conditions ^{_{Côte d'Ivoire: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report | Freedom House}}. Foreign Direct Investments are increasing as the economy continues to improve, and in 2014 the African Development Bank returned to its headquarters in Abidjan, where it still remains.

The Ivorian Government’s Accelerating 2030 Agenda puts great emphasis on involving the private sector in Côte d’Ivoire’s economic development and on implementing a new investment code, which will encourage the flow of foreign investment through lower investment caps. These changes create enormous opportunity for Danish companies working with green investments and sustainable building.