Economy
From The Report: Cote d'Ivoire 2013
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It is amazing the difference a few years can make. Over the course of 2012, Côte d’Ivoire has seen a significant improvement in both its current performance and its outlook for short-, medium- and long-term growth. While there remains plenty to be done, the improvement marks something of a return to form for the world’s largest cocoa producer.
Articles from this Chapter
Turning over a new leaf: The country looks to re-establish itself as a regional economic centre
Turning over a new leaf: The country looks to re-establish itself as a regional economic centreOBGplus
It is amazing the difference a few years can make. Over the course of 2012, Côte d’Ivoire has seen a significant improvement in both its current performance and its outlook for short-, medium- and long-term growth. While there remains plenty to be done, the improvement marks something of a return to form for the world’s largest cocoa producer. Once the economic powerhouse of post-colonial West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire was hit by drought and global recession in the 1980s, giving rise to…
Standing together: Plans to create a regional economic union are under wayOBGplus
Amid the eurozone’s well-publicised difficulties, one might be forgiven for thinking monetary unions are falling out of fashion. However, the appetite for shared currencies is still strong in Africa, with two large regional groupings already proving their benefits, in Francophone West Africa and Francophone Central Africa. Although they are smaller-scale sub-regional monetary unions rather than the more ambitious euro project, they are nonetheless an important stepping-stone towards not only…
Standing together: Plans to create a regional economic union are under wayOBGplus
Amid the eurozone’s well-publicised difficulties, one might be forgiven for thinking monetary unions are falling out of fashion. However, the appetite for shared currencies is still strong in Africa, with two large regional groupings already proving their benefits, in Francophone West Africa and Francophone Central Africa. Although they are smaller-scale sub-regional monetary unions rather than the more ambitious euro project, they are nonetheless an important stepping-stone towards not only…
Paying off debt: The country is striving to take charge of its creditOBGplus
Côte d’Ivoire has seen a dramatic turnaround in its fiscal health in recent years, with an improving outlook for headline growth and a reduced debt load. When the Ivoirian economy hit the skids from the late 1970s onwards, its debt levels spiralled ever higher, increasing ten-fold between 1975 and 1995. Private sector creditors predominated until 1983, after which official, bilateral and multilateral lenders became increasingly important as the country racked up arrears as its economy suffered…
Paying off debt: The country is striving to take charge of its creditOBGplus
Côte d’Ivoire has seen a dramatic turnaround in its fiscal health in recent years, with an improving outlook for headline growth and a reduced debt load. When the Ivoirian economy hit the skids from the late 1970s onwards, its debt levels spiralled ever higher, increasing ten-fold between 1975 and 1995. Private sector creditors predominated until 1983, after which official, bilateral and multilateral lenders became increasingly important as the country racked up arrears as its economy suffered…
Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, on the country’s outlook for growthOBGplus
In recent years, Côte d’Ivoire has performed better in macroeconomics and in the management of its public finances compared to what was forecast in the economic and financial framework established with the IMF and the World Bank in 2011. In effect, the real growth rate of GDP reached 9.8% by the end of 2012, as opposed to an initial projection of 8.1% growth. Thus, the country has recorded its highest growth rate in over a decade and in turn has displayed a strong capacity for wealth creation.…
Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, on the country’s outlook for growthOBGplus
In recent years, Côte d’Ivoire has performed better in macroeconomics and in the management of its public finances compared to what was forecast in the economic and financial framework established with the IMF and the World Bank in 2011. In effect, the real growth rate of GDP reached 9.8% by the end of 2012, as opposed to an initial projection of 8.1% growth. Thus, the country has recorded its highest growth rate in over a decade and in turn has displayed a strong capacity for wealth creation.…
Crunching numbers: The government hopes to attract international investment partnersOBGplus
Following years of crisis, Côte d’Ivoire has been eager to recapture its former crown as the most dynamic economy in West Africa, and with the benefits of both stability and headline growth, the prospects are encouraging. After decades of chronic under-investment by the public and private sectors alike, much of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic fabric and infrastructure has been severely degraded. Years of political turmoil have, moreover, delayed many of the institutional advances needed to promote…
Crunching numbers: The government hopes to attract international investment partnersOBGplus
Following years of crisis, Côte d’Ivoire has been eager to recapture its former crown as the most dynamic economy in West Africa, and with the benefits of both stability and headline growth, the prospects are encouraging. After decades of chronic under-investment by the public and private sectors alike, much of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic fabric and infrastructure has been severely degraded. Years of political turmoil have, moreover, delayed many of the institutional advances needed to promote…
OBG talks to Jean-Louis Billon, Minister of Commerce, Craft and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) PromotionOBGplus
Interview: Jean-Louis Billon, What can be done to support local SME growth? JEAN-LOUIS BILLON: In Côte d’Ivoire, SMEs account for 80% of companies and 23% of modern jobs, and contribute 18% to the GDP. Unfortunately, over the last few years, we have observed a decrease in the number of SMEs as a result of successive crises. In order to efficiently promote SMEs and allow them to properly drive growth and development, the reforms under way aim to establish a legal, institutional and fiscal environment…
OBG talks to Jean-Louis Billon, Minister of Commerce, Craft and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) PromotionOBGplus
Interview: Jean-Louis Billon, What can be done to support local SME growth? JEAN-LOUIS BILLON: In Côte d’Ivoire, SMEs account for 80% of companies and 23% of modern jobs, and contribute 18% to the GDP. Unfortunately, over the last few years, we have observed a decrease in the number of SMEs as a result of successive crises. In order to efficiently promote SMEs and allow them to properly drive growth and development, the reforms under way aim to establish a legal, institutional and fiscal environment…
OBG talks to Emmanuel Esmel Essis, Director-General, Investment Promotion Agency of Côte d’Ivoire (CEPICI)OBGplus
Interview: Emmanuel Esmel Essis What are Côte d’Ivoire’s comparative advantages? EMMANUEL ESMEL ESSIS: Côte d’Ivoire has always had economic weight in the region and was an emerging country in the 1970s. With strong GDP growth, it was an El Dorado for investors thanks to the government’s economic policy, and became the heavyweight in the UEMOA area, with 40% of regional GDP. The country then regressed during 10 years of crisis, and there is much to be done and legislation to be updated.…
OBG talks to Emmanuel Esmel Essis, Director-General, Investment Promotion Agency of Côte d’Ivoire (CEPICI)OBGplus
Interview: Emmanuel Esmel Essis What are Côte d’Ivoire’s comparative advantages? EMMANUEL ESMEL ESSIS: Côte d’Ivoire has always had economic weight in the region and was an emerging country in the 1970s. With strong GDP growth, it was an El Dorado for investors thanks to the government’s economic policy, and became the heavyweight in the UEMOA area, with 40% of regional GDP. The country then regressed during 10 years of crisis, and there is much to be done and legislation to be updated.…
