🇨🇮Côte d'IvoireWest Africa
EU-Côte d'Ivoire trade averages 5027 billion FCFA between 2020 and 2025, says Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé
via Abidjan.net10 min read
Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé announced that trade between the European Union and Côte d'Ivoire averaged 5027 billion FCFA annually from 2020 to 2025, with a trade surplus of nearly 959 billion FCFA for Côte d'Ivoire. He made this statement on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the opening of the 9th session of the Côte d'Ivoire-EU Partnership Dialogue in Abidjan-Plateau. The dialogue focused on peace and security and the business climate. Mambé highlighted the EU as a key partner for Côte d'Ivoire, both commercially and in national development, noting that exchanges represent a significant portion of Ivorian foreign trade, facilitated by the interim Economic Partnership Agreement. He also emphasized the EU's role as a major investor, contributing to economic transformation, infrastructure modernization, and job creation for youth. The Prime Minister praised the quality of the dialogue, based on trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision for strategic development. He stated that the chosen themes reflect common priorities, as Côte d'Ivoire focuses on peace, economic transformation, and improving living conditions, with significant results in stability and strengthened governance. Mambé also affirmed that the business climate is a central pillar of Côte d'Ivoire's development strategy, with ongoing structural reforms aimed at improving the investment environment and economic attractiveness. These reforms include administrative simplification, digitalization of public services,
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Must ReadThe Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace RHDP has welcomed the Ivorian government's decision to dissolve the Independent Electoral Commission CEI, announced after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Ibrahima Cissé Bacongo, on May 8, the ruling party acknowledged the decision, noting that the CEI had organized and supervised various elections in Côte d'Ivoire for the past twenty-five years. Despite its efforts, the electoral body had consistently faced criticism from political actors and civil society organizations. The RHDP expressed satisfaction that the government addressed these concerns by dissolving the institution. The party reaffirmed its full support for President Alassane Ouattara, stating that he continues to demonstrate his responsiveness to citizens' needs for a peaceful, prosperous, and united Côte d'Ivoire. The RHDP urged political actors and civil society organizations to fully engage in preserving peace and trust to establish a new electoral management mechanism that ensures calm elections in Côte d'Ivoire.
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Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé met with Tareq Muhmood, the regional president for Visa's CEMEA Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa zone, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Abidjan-Plateau. Muhmood expressed Visa's intention to expand its activities in Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting the country as a "fantastic environment" for growing their business. He noted that this expansion aims to support digital payments within Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring West and Central African countries, fostering financial inclusion and economic development. Muhmood also emphasized Visa's goal to significantly contribute to the growth of the Ivorian economy, particularly through developing tourism and ensuring visitors can easily make payments to local merchants and economic operators. Visa officially opened its regional office in Abidjan in November 2017, following a memorandum of understanding.