India-Cote d'Ivoire Relations
Embassy of India
Abidjan
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India-Cote d’Ivoire bilateral brief
Cote d'Ivoire holds a prominent position in Francophone West Africa due to its abundant mineral resources and long history of agricultural production, being largest economy within the 8-member West Africa Economic and Monetary Union, contributing 40% of the Union's gross domestic product.
2. President Alassane Ouattara took office on 4th December 2010 and his presidency saw significant development. He won the 2015 election and ruling party of President Ouattara, the Rassemblement des Houphouétistes pour la démocratie et la paix, won 147 of the total 255 seats in the March 2021 elections for the National Assembly. In Senate elections held in September 2023, his party secured 56 out of 64 seats up for elections. Similarly, in the Municipal elections held in September 2023, his party secured pole position by winning 123 out of 199 seats.
3. The diplomatic relationship between India and Côte d'Ivoire has long been characterized by cordiality and friendliness. India established its Embassy in Abidjan in 1979, and in September 2004, Cote d'Ivoire opened its Resident Mission in New Delhi.
4. India and Côte d'Ivoire share values and goals in common. The two nations collaborate on issues of mutual concern, including sustainable development, climate change, international terrorism, and disarmament. Cote d'Ivoire has designated India as its focal country for cooperation in ICT, Agriculture, Health, Mining, and Infrastructure since 2014, highlighting the significance of fostering stronger ties. In recent years, India has also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Côte d'Ivoire.
5. The National Assembly established the Cote d'Ivoire-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in July 2022. Members of the Friendship Group come from various political parties, and, the group is led by Mr. Pascal Affi N'Guessen, former prime minister and current president of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), an opposition political party.
6. In January 2023, Ivorian Minister of Commerce, Industry and SME Promotion in the government participated in the Voice of South Summit – 2023 Session on Developing Synergies in the South: Trade, Technology, Tourism, Resources in a virtual format being chaired by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Visits:
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2022 |
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Bhupender Yadav visited Cote d’Ivoire to attend COP15 from 9-11 May 2022 |
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2021 |
During COVID times, MOS (VM) virtually interacted with the Indian Community in Cote d’Ivoire on 8 December 21 to check their welfare, their suggestions, areas of concern and to hail their contributions to both Cote d’Ivoire as well as India. |
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2021 |
In March 2021, Secretary (Economic Relations), MEA visited Cote d’Ivoire for the first India-CI Foreign Office Consultations. |
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2019 |
MoS External Affairs Sh. V. Muraleedharan paid a bilateral visit to Cote d’Ivoire on 06 September 2019. |
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2018
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-Cote d’Ivoire Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy, HE Excellency Thierry Tanoh Visited India in October 2018 to attend ISA Annual Meeting in Delhi - Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire H.E Daniel Kablan Duncan visited India from 10-11 March to participate at the ISA Founding Conference. -MoS External Affairs Sh. M.J. Akbar paid a bilateral visit to Cote d’Ivoire from February 28 -March 1, 2018. |
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2017 |
-Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan visited India from 22-25 May 2017 to participate at the 54th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) held in Ahmadabad. |
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2016
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-Honorable Rashtrapathi ji Shri. Pranab Mukherjee visited Cote d’Ivoire in June 2016. This was the first bilateral visit at the level of Head of the State from India. -Visit of Minister for Digital Economy and Post Mr. Bruno Nabagné Koné in October 2016 to participate in the World Economic Forum meeting. -The First Joint Commission Meeting held in October 2016 in New Delhi. The Ivorian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Mr. Albert Abdullah Mbari. |
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2015
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-Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Ram Kripal Yadav visited Abidjan from 13-16 July 2015 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to personally handover the invitation for the third India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi. -Minister for Mines and Industry Mr. Brou Kassi Jean Claude visited New Delhi to participate in the IAFS-III in October 2015. |
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2014
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-MOS External Affairs Mrs. Preneet Kaur visited Abidjan from 22-24 January 2014. -Cote d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan accompanied by Ministers of Trade and Mines & Industry visited India from 3-7 November 2014 to participate in India Economic Summit in New Delhi. |
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2013 |
-Prime Minister Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan visited India from 17-19 March 2013 and addressed the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave. |
Trade and Commerce:
7. Total bilateral trade figures data during the last three years are as follows:
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Year |
Exports |
Imports |
Total (in million US$) |
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2019-20 |
414.67 |
454.88 |
869.55 |
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2020-21 |
585.96 |
317.51 |
903.47 |
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2021-22 |
728.62 |
468.78 |
1,197.40 |
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2022-23 |
887.79 |
665.18 |
1552.97 |
(Data Source: MOC, GOI)
Capacity Building and Human Resource Development:
8. On June 27, 2019, the Mahatma Gandhi IT & Biotechnology Park (MGIT-BP) was jointly inaugurated in Grand-Bassam, Cote d’Ivoire, with funding of US$20 million provided by India. MGIT-BP serves as an exclusive Free Trade Zone (FTZ) dedicated to the fields of IT and Biotechnology.
9. India has provided 100 training slots to Cote d’Ivoire under ITEC Programme in the year 2022-23. ICCR also extended 10 scholarships to Ivorian to pursue undergraduate and post-graduate studies in India in year 2023-24. In addition, as part of the outreach programme, on request from the Ivorian Minister of Technical Education, Embassy organized a specially tailored English language course for 31 Ivorian teachers under the ITEC programme in July 2023. In last 6 years, more than 350 people have benefited from various training programmes of Government of India.
10. 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 Pan African e-Network Project known as e-VidhyaBharati & e-Aarogya Bharati (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.
Culture:
11. Indian tele-serials and movies, dubbed in French, were immensely popular in Cote d'Ivoire since 1950s. Indian movies are shown once a fortnight in a rented cinema hall in Abidjan, which is mostly seen by the Indian diaspora. Yoga is becoming increasingly popular among Ivoirians.
Indian Community:
12. There are an estimated over 2500 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 a few Indian restaurants in Abidjan. Community members regularly organize get-together to celebrate all major Indian festivals.
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(Last updated: 11 October 2023)