Embassy of India

ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE

COTE D'IVOIRE

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India-Cote d’Ivoire bilateral brief

Political: India and Côte d'Ivoire have traditionally enjoyed cordial and friendly relations. India established its Embassy in Abidjan in 1979 and Cote d'Ivoire opened its Resident Mission in New Delhi in September 2004.

2.       India and Cote d’Ivoire share an extraordinary convergence of values and aspirations. India and Cote d’Ivoire have been working together on matters of shared interests and concerns, on issues such as, sustainable development, climate change, international terrorism and disarmament. Cote d’Ivoire has also been appreciative of India’s role in United Nations Peacekeeping operations, particularly in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), which has completed its mandate.

3.       Cote d’Ivoire, since 2011, by declaring India as the focus country for cooperation in the fields of ICT, Agriculture, Mining and Infrastructure has emphasized on the importance of strengthening relations with India. India, too has given renewed thrust to bilateral relations with Cote d’Ivoire in the recent years.

4. Cote d’Ivoire has been supportive of India in the UN and other international bodies, particularly in the elections.

Visits:

4.       The close and friendly relations that exist between India and Cote d’Ivoire are manifested in regular bilateral visits at the highest level:

 

Trade and Commerce:

5. Total bilateral trade figures data during the last three years are as follows:

(Data Source: MOC, GOI)

6. India imports cashew, manganese ore, cotton, wood, scrap metals, rubber, etc. CI is the largest producer & exporter of cashew in the world and India imports big chunk of Ivorian cashew. The main items of India's export are rice, pharmaceutical products, Automobiles, machinery, chemicals, plastics and rubber.

Indian Investment in Cote d’Ivoire:

7. As per the estimates of the CEPICI (Cote d’Ivoire Investment Promotion Agency), total investment from India to Cote d’Ivoire from 2013-2019 is CFA 16.829 Billion (US $ 28 Million app.). The majority of the investment is in food processing/Agri-Business (47%) and transportation/Storage (handling) 24% sector. The total exposure of Indian companies under India’s LOC projects is US $ 247.7 million and EXIM Bank’s buyer’s credit mechanism is US$ 137.45 million in Cote d’Ivoire. There are many Indian companies which are involved in trading activities in Cote d’Ivoire but do not have any significant investments. However, few Indian companies specially in Automobile sector have some investments in Cote d’Ivoire. As per available information, Tata Motors has US$ 5 million (appx.) and Ashok Leyland has US $1.5 million (appx.) of investment. Apart from this IBPL, an electric 3-wheeler manufacturer has invested around US $ 0.6 million in Cote d’Ivoire. There are also few Indian owned companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, mining, food processing,iron and steel products which have significant investments in Cote d’Ivoire. Africure Pharma, an Indian owned company has invested around EURO 10 million in a manufacturing plant. Besides, almost all the Indian pharmaceutical companies have their presence in Cote d’Ivoire.

 

The Embassy of India in collaboration with Cote d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Indian Chamber of Commerce in Cote d’Ivoire organized two day “India Day” at the Chamber of Commerce premises Abidjan on 2-3 march 2020. The two days events included the 3rd India-Cote d’Ivoire Business Forum: Business Connect, inaugurated and addressed by Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Souleymane Diarrasouba, A special Health Care Seminar inaugurated and addressed by the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene HE Dr Eugène Aka-Aouélé, two days Solo exhibitions by 30 Indian companies showcasing their products and services to the Cote d’Ivoire business and public in general. These events were in continuation of a series of such bilateral trade and investments promotion events organised by the Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire. The two-day events received an overwhelming response with more than 100 Cote d’Ivoire and 50 plus Indian companies including 15 companies who travelled from India only to participate these events. The excellent response to these events is reflective of the growing interest among Indian enterprises to invest in Cote d’Ivoire.

Projects Exports:

8.       Bilateral ties have been strengthened by the expanding South-South Cooperation between the two countries. India extended a grant of US$ 790,000/- for establishment of the Centre for Demonstration and Promotion of Technologies (CDT) in Abidjan in 2007-10. The Mahatma Gandhi IT & Biotechnology Park (MGIT-BP), built by India’s LOC of US$ 20 million, was jointly inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire His Excellency Daniel Kablan Duncan and the Ambassador of India to Cote d’Ivoire at an Inauguration ceremony in Grand-Bassam, Cote d’Ivoire on 27 June 2019. MGIT-BP is a dedicated Free Trade Zone (FTZ) for IT & Biotechnology. Tata Automobiles have presence in Cote d’Ivoire and had supplied 500 buses to Abidjan Transport Authority under India’s Buyers Credit of USD 78 million USD. Ashok Leyland opened its regional office in December 2017 in Abidjan and is executing a project under India’s Buyers Credit of USD 50 million with Fund for Development of Transport Routes (FDTR), an organization under the Ivorian Ministry of Transport.

Capacity Building and Human Resource Development:

9.       India has been providing training slots to Cote d’Ivoire under ITEC Programme, 100 in the year 2018-19. ICCR also extended 10 paid scholarships to Ivorian to pursue undergraduate and post graduate studies in India. Apart from this, several Ivorian students have also undergone training courses under the IAFS mechanism. Under the PAN African e-Network Project of IAFS many Ivorian students have pursued higher studies through distant learning faculties at the University of Cocody. A tele-medical consultation facility with prominent hospitals in India has been established at Yopougon Hospital in Abidjan. GOI has offered the service of the upgraded programme of e-VBAB. India is also an important learning center for Ivorian students, particularly for ICT studies besides Commerce and Management degrees. India is fast becoming an important learning center for Ivorian students, particularly for ICT studies besides Commerce and Management degrees. Around 1500 Ivorian students reported to be pursuing their studies on self-financing basis. 

IAFS Process:

 

10.       Under the PAN African e-Network Project, many Ivorian students have pursued higher studies through distant learning facilties at the University of Cocody. A tele-medical consultation facility with prominent hospitals in India has been established at Yopougon Hospital in Abidjan.

Culture:

11.       Indian tele-serials and movies, dubbed in French, have been immensely popular in CI since 1950s. Senior Ivorian citizens recall watching movies such as ‘Albela’ and ‘Mangala’ in Abidjan movie theatres in 1950s. Yoga is also popular among Ivoirians. Under Festival of India in Cote d’Ivoire, the Embassy of India organized several cultural performances in Abidjan and other cities in 2017-18. Embassy of India organized the 2^nd Indian Film Festival in December 2019 where 7 Bollywood popular movies with French subtitles were screened.

Indian Community:

12.     There are estimated over 1500 Indian nationals residing in Cote d’Ivoire. Most of them are engaged in trading and general merchandise business while few of them are engaged in mining and manufacturing. There are also many Indians working with African Development Bank. ISKCON, Geeta Ashram and Art of Living have their setup in Abidjan. Indian community also patronizes a temple in Abidjan. There are few Indian restaurants in Abidjan. Community members regularly organize get togethers to celebrate all major Indian festivals.

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(Last updated: 14 October 2020)

  

Useful Resources:

1.      https://www.eoiabidjan.gov.in/page/india-cote-d-ivoire-relations/

2.      https://www.eoiabidjan.gov.in/news_letter_detail/?id=42

3.      https://twitter.com/EOIIvoryCoast

4.      https://www.facebook.com/EOICOTEDIVOIRE/

5.       https://www.facebook.com/EOICOTEDIVOIRE/videos/856431848055861/