Côte d'Ivoire Economic Research Highlights

Côte d'Ivoire Economic Research & Views

New cities set to alter investment landscape in Africa

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With Africa’s population projected to double by 2050, countries are planning new cities to house increased industrial activity and urban populations, and address the constraints of many of the continent’s mega-cities. New urban developments around the globe are working to tackle issues surrounding population growth, sustainability and economic resilience. In 2015 Egypt announced that it would build a new capital. In addition to administrative offices, the New Administrative Capital is expected to host a stadium...

In infographics: Boosting local value added in agricultural commodities in Côte d’Ivoire

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Côte d’Ivoire agriculture sector, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP and employs two-thirds of the population, is a core sector of the economy with global significance. The country is a key exporter of cocoa, cashew nuts, palm oil, bananas, coffee, rubber, kola nuts and cotton. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa producer and shares the title of number-one cocoa grinder with the Netherlands. It is also the top cashew nut exporter and was the leading producer of sweet bananas in 2017. However, relatively little of what the country exports is transformed locally. In the case of cocoa beans, Côte d’Ivoire accounts for 40% of global production but processes less than one-third of its own output locally.

African start-ups were a bright spot in the global funding ecosystem in 2022

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As rising borrowing costs and recession concerns weighed on global venture capital investment in 2022, Africa’s start-up ecosystem attracted record funding. While most regions experienced double-digit declines in start-up funding last year, Africa posted gains in total investment volume, deals and number of investors. Start-up funding on the continent grew by roughly 5% in 2022, compared to a decline of 62% in Latin America and 39% in Asia Pacific. Globally, venture capital funding was down 35% at $445bn, albeit still well...

Global CEO Survey: What is on the horizon for emerging markets?

While the recovery period following the Covid-19 pandemic saw the unlocking of major capital in emerging markets, inflationary pressures, fluctuating commodity prices and geopolitical concerns have since tempered the global economic outlook for 2023. Balancing opportunity and risk has become a priority for shareholders and investors, but emerging markets have remained resilient. Some regions, such as the Gulf, are looking to funnel elevated hydrocarbons revenue into sustainable mega-projects, whereas leaders in Asia...

Issa Fadiga, CEO, Banque Populaire de Côte d'Ivoire

On creating an enabling business environment

Côte d’Ivoire’s post-pandemic investment strategy

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Key reforms are lowering barriers to foreign direct investment (FDI) and improving the ease of doing business in Côte d’Ivoire as the country looks to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic. The government aims to increase foreign and private investment to 72% of the total and process at least 50% of raw export commodities domestically by 2030...

The role of industrial zones in SME growth in emerging markets

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As governments across Africa look to bolster the economic potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZs) are emerging as key enablers of their development. SMEs are the backbone of the global economy, particularly in emerging markets, where they make up 90% of all businesses and create 50% of all jobs. The impact is higher in Africa, where SMEs employ around 80% of the continent’s workforce. But while SMEs are a major economic driver, there is also significant room for...

Are e-money taxes an effective solution for African nations seeking to expand their fiscal reach?

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A number of sub-Saharan African countries have sought to introduce taxes on electronic transactions, in response to a sustained uptake prompted by the pandemic. While such moves have been met with criticism, they represent an opportunity to significantly boost tax revenue. Covid-19 and its knock-on effects gave rise to a sharp increase in electronic payments across the African continent – a trend that is set to continue. In parallel to this, public finances in the region have taken a significant hit, as revenue from tax and exports...

Private Equity and Venture Capital’s role in Africa’s economic recovery scenario

Bernardo Bruzzone, Africa Regional Editor at Oxford Business Group (OBG), recently held a discussion with Alexis John Ahyee, Executive Director for West and Central Africa of HEC Paris, and with Nadia Kouassi Coulibaly, Head of Research of African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA). The topics that were touched upon in this discussion included the evolution in recent years of Private Equity and Venture Capital in the African continent and the role of these mechanisms as a source of financing in the context of...