- President Alassane Ouattara was re-elected in 2015 and has launched an ambitious National Development Plan focused on infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education and reconciliation. - The plan aims to invest $49.2 billion between 2016-2020, with 62% financed by the government and 38% by the private sector through public-private partnerships. - Key projects include expanding transportation networks like ports, airports, and railroads; developing renewable energy sources like solar and wind; and adding value to key exports like cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. - Foreign investment is encouraged and has increased, with the majority going to infrastructure, housing, health, transportation and energy. Cote d'Ivoire aims

1. ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT This advertising supplement is produced by Vista Reports Media Limited and did not involve the reporting or editing staff of International New York Times
‘The Triumph of The Elephant’
Côte d’Ivoire
Electricity provider prepares to
become a regional energy hub
Page 2
Monday, March 21, 2016
Assets more than double as bank
spearheads national progress
Page 2
Coffee and cocoa leader sets
ambitious goals for production
Page 3
Expansion of the Port of Abidjan
reflects confident horizon
Page 4
Regulator tackles cyber crime
to make ICT more secure
Page 4
Project Team: Sanziana Gheorghiu, Project Director; Pierre Tanguy, Editorial Director
The success of the government’s ambitious ‘Triumph of the Elephant’ 2012-2015 economic recovery
program served it well in recent elections and raised confidence in the country’s future progress
Following recent elections in Côte d’Ivoire,
President Alassane Ouattara gained a second
five-year term in October 2015 with an 83 percent
margin, and has unveiled a robust list of objectives
aimed at bringing his country back to prominence.
During his re-election campaign, Mr. Ouattara
urged people to join him on the highway to emer-
gence—a plan he hopes to execute by focusing on
the promotion of justice and reconciliation, while
also focusing on perennial problems such as youth
unemployment, access to education, transportation
networks and solid infrastructure.
His plans have gained him the solidarity of the
Ivorian people, who have already benefitted from
many of the major projects he has launched. These
include major infrastructure works such as new
roads, overpasses, bridges and dams. In parallel,
he has overseen sweeping upgrades to schools and
universities, and turned Côte d’Ivoire into one of the
fastest-growing economies in the world, and cer-
tainly among the most dynamic in West Africa.
Thecountry’sNationalDevelopmentPlanisload-
edwithprojectsaimedatimprovingaccesstohous-
ing,healthcareandenergyinsustainable,transpar-
entwaysthatcontributetotheongoingfightagainst
corruption. As part of the National Development
Plan, $49.2 billion will be invested in various proj-
ects between 2016 and 2020, and the government
expects to finance 62 percent of new development
projects, leaving the rest to the private sector.
Within the framework of the National Develop-
ment Plan, medium and large-scale auctions will
take place in sectors such as infrastructure, hous-
ing, and energy, so that both public and private op-
erators can contribute to their financing.
Highonthedevelopmentagendaisalsotheame-
lioration and modernization of agriculture, and a
push to add value to the production of cocoa, coffee,
cashew nuts and palm oil, which are the main cash
crops of the region.
As of September 2015, the headquarters of the
International Cocoa Council (ICCO) are now in
Abidjan. This momentous decision to move it from
London to Côte d’Ivoire’s capital city underscores
the importance that the country plays in the world
market for coffee and cocoa, and is a testament to
the nation’s restored peace. Initially, plans had been
made to move the headquarters to Abidjan back in
2002, but political unrest did not allow for the move
until recently.
In an effort to stimulate activity related to the cre-
ation and development of facilities that process lo-
cal raw materials, a new investment code has also
been put into place. Foreign investors are especially
welcome, and an influx of investment in industrial
sectorshasalreadytakenplacefollowingtheimple-
mentation of the “Guichet Unique,” which allows
a foreign investor to establish a company in Côte
d’Ivoire within just 72 hours.
To date, the infrastructure, housing, health,
transportation and energy sectors have attracted
the greatest investment, reaching nearly €1 billion
($1.1 billion) in 2015, with 31 percent of the invest-
ment being national and 69 percent foreign. Over
the coming year, the Ivorian government expects
total investment to reach $1.45 billion.
To support business activity, the country’s infor-
mation and communications technology (ICT) of-
ferings have also been boosted, and now five fiber-
optic projects are in place to increase access to ICT
services. In parallel, the Ivorian energy sector has
also seen big changes in a bid to offer citizens sta-
ble, more affordable energy. As demand for energy
is increasing, industry is quickly developing, espe-
cially in terms of thermal and hydraulic power.
Thedevelopmentoftheenergysectorisofpartic-
ularimportance.“Everyonehastherighttoelectric-
ity,” says Adama Toungara, Minister of Petroleum
and Energy. “An Ivorian homeowner living in a big
city has just as much of a right to electricity as an
Ivoirian living in a countryside.”
Hebelievesthatregardlessofcost,itisthedutyof
theleadersofCôted’Ivoiretogivepeopleinthemost
remote corners of the country the chance to live a
normal life, but acknowledges that as things stand,
the demand for electricity is expected to expand be-
yond the country’s existing supply of power genera-
tion sources. As a result, the country must look to
new discoveries of natural gas in order to meet its
domestic growth and regional export expectations.
As part of the West African Power Pool (WAPP),
Côte d’Ivoire already exports electricity to its neigh-
bors, Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso. Following the
expansion of the WAPP, Côte d’Ivoire is now com-
mitted to exporting energy to Liberia, Sierra Leone
and Guinea, which, when combined with growing
domestic demand for energy, requires drastic new
measures of energy production.
Already, increased gold mining, manufactur-
ing and food processing industries are driving up
demand for energy and natural gas. Petroci, Côte
d’Ivoire’snationaloilandgascompany,predictsthat
demand for natural gas will be 17 times higher by
2023thanitisnow.Giventhesepredictions,thegov-
ernment is responding aggressively by incentivizing
foreign investment in the sector, or otherwise risk
falling short of demand.
Atpresent,67percentofelectricityinCôted’Ivoire
comes from thermal power using natural gas. Hy-
dropowerrepresentsaminimalsourceofenergy,as
no new dams have been built for the past 20 years.
The discovery of additional natural gas sources
seems to show the greatest promise for growth, but
as its gas prices can be volatile, the government is
also striving to develop renewable energy capabili-
ties and diversify the types of energy it is reliant on.
The country shows significant potential in renew-
able sources, although the necessary regulatory
frameworkstoensurethesustainabledevelopment
of wind, solar, biogas and mini-hydro energy sourc-
esarenotyetinplace.Evenso,foreigninvestorscan
find ample opportunities in the energy sector given
the urgency to boost the existing supply.
“ThenewelectricalcodeinCôted’Ivoireproposes
liberalization of the sector,” says Mr. Toungara. “We
alreadyhaveindependentpowerproducersinoper-
ation. The Ivorian government has withdrawn from
the production side; we buy the energy produced by
privateentities.And10newhydroelectricdamsthat
are being planned today will all be produced by the
private sector, with the Ivorian state involved only in
the purchase of the energy generated.”
In terms of transportation networks, there is also
significant potential for foreign companies to boost
the momentum of projects that have already taken
off. Gaoussou Touré, Minister of Transportation,
states that the air transport sector is one in which
Côte d’Ivoire has seen major changes.
Abidjan’s Félix Houphouët-Boigny International
Airport has been fitted with upgraded equipment,
such as new scanners to boost security, and there
are plans for a large commercial area nearby fea-
turing modern conference and hospitality facilities.
Mr. Touré says the launch of the public-private
flag carrier Air Côte d’Ivoire in 2012 and its proven
commitment to quality is a source of national pride.
“We want Abidjan to become a hub, but you cannot
make it without a strong airline,” he says.
The minister also highlights the ongoing advanc-
es at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, which he
says are the country’s “economic lungs” as more
than 90 percent of the country’s trade goes by sea.
Abidjan has various upgrades under way and a
planned railway link between San Pedro and Mali’s
capital,Bamako,willbeasignificantboonfortrans-
porting minerals.
Other notable developments making progress in
Abidjan include the redesign of its public transpor-
tationsystemandshuttleboatsonEbrielagoonthat
will help alleviate traffic congestion on its increas-
ingly busy roads. “Transportation is a powerful tool
of economic development,” says Mr. Touré.
Hisministryhasoverseenthelaunchofadatabase
that allows for the automation and greater trans-
parency of all transport operations and provides
valuable statistics, and cuts back on opportunities
for corruption and the falsification of documents.
“Our mission is to accomplish the modernization of
the entire transportation system and turn ours into
a developed country,” he says. This sentiment ac-
curately aligns with economic indicators from the
World Bank, which named Côte d’Ivoire among the
top10reformereconomiesandsignaledthatitison
a solid post-war economic revival.
Investment and stability enable a gateway to a region of 300 million people
Since becoming Prime Minister in November
2012, what have been the major challenges
you have had to face?
Since taking office, my biggest job has been
overseeing the emergence of Côte d’Ivoire
as an industrialized nation. Thanks in no
small part to the efforts of former president
Félix Houphouët-Boigny, education and hu-
man capital have been highly prized in Côte
d’Ivoire. Even before Côte d’Ivoire achieved
independence, Mr. Houphouët-Boigny sent
different government officials to France for
training, and ensured that a sizeable por-
tion of his budget was reserved to help pro-
vide universal schooling for Ivorian citizens.
While this was all good for our country, given
the rocky circumstances under which our
former president took power, establishing
peace was also very important. In 2012, he
developed a three-point plan that involved
attaining peace, national reconciliation and
economic recovery and development, which
to date, has been executed with success.
Thankfully, peace has been re-established
internally as well as with neighboring coun-
tries, and following peaceful elections,
economic growth between 2014 and 2015
clocked in at 9 percent. Nonetheless, despite
promising progress on all three of these
fronts, there is still room for improvement,
and this is where my main challenges lie.
Fromaneconomicperspective,inwhichareas
do you see the largest potential for growth?
We are a country of roughly 24 million in-
habitants, but this is not enough. We need to
look to markets like Mercosur and the Eu-
ropean Union and follow their lead by form-
ing one large, competitively sized African
market. In order for this to happen, however,
peace remains key across all regions of the
enlarged market. This is why we have inter-
vened in Mali and Nigeria, where Boko Ha-
ram has contributed to significant unrest. We
cannot possibly develop a successful large
African market with terrorists within our
boundaries.
HowhaspeaceinCôted’Ivoirehelpedstabilize
neighboring countries and what role has the
emphasis on education played in maintaining
peace and stimulating economic growth?
Education, almost by definition, leads to bet-
ter living conditions and helps decrease poverty,
misery and unemployment, and by extension
it contributes to political and economic stabil-
ity. That said, an important undercurrent of the
economic reforms in Côte d’Ivoire has involved
the de-centralization of the state. I have always
believed that the state should not invest in the
market sector – the commercial sector should
be the business of the private sector. In other
words, instead of private projects, the state
should put its money in areas of defense, secu-
rity and the elements of education and health
that are not covered by the private sectors.
What investment goals are currently in place
for Côte d’Ivoire, and what is being done to en-
sure they are met?
By 2020, we expect that 70 percent of the in-
vestment made in Côte d’Ivoire will be made by
the private sector. Tax incentives and beneficial
investment codes were put into action in 2012,
with an emphasis on investment outside the
capital of Abidjan.
Inanticipationofanuptickininvestment,local
electrical and mining codes were also revised to
facilitate the private sector-led construction of
hydropower plants and thermal power plants,
as well as the transportation and distribution of
electricity.
ICT development is also essential. Mr.
Houphouët-Boigny once said that if Côte
d’Ivoire had missed the industrial revolution,
it would not miss out on the information revo-
lution. Currently ICT represents 7 percent to 8
percent of GDP. Our goal is that it represents at
least 15 percent of GDP in 2020. The changes
are significant. What are we doing? Optic fi-
bers: there are two lines that are already fin-
ished. In 2017, this country will have 7,000km
(4,350 miles) of optic fiber.
Unsurprisingly, foreign companies have tak-
ennoticeofthefavorableconditionsandopened
up for business.
How did the Invest in Côte d’Ivoire forum help
stimulate foreign direct investment?
The Invest in Côte d’Ivoire forum was instru-
mental to giving the country the type of interna-
tional exposure it needed to gain the attention of
foreign investors. More than 100 countries par-
ticipated in the forum last year, which will take
place again in November 2016. I expect even
morecountriestobepresentandeagertobegin
their cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire.
Will coffee and cocoa production continue to
playakeyroleintheeconomicdevelopmentof
Côte d’Ivoire?
Itcertainlywill.However,tosupportthegrowth
of that sector and help facilitate future exports,
we must not ignore the importance of improving
our transportation networks. We want to ensure
that Côte d’Ivoire once again becomes a port and
airport hub for the region, and several discus-
sions are ongoing to invest in Abidjan airport.
In parallel, the Chinese have already invested
$900 million to widen the canal and equip vari-
ous terminals and ore containers. We aspire to
be a country that is a gateway to a sub-region of
more than 300 million people.
Daniel Kablan Duncan,
Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire
See this report at
www.vista-reports.com
PRIME MINISTER Daniel Kablan Duncan explains some of the
key factors in Côte d’Ivoire’s socioeconomic development
President Alassane Ouattara, pictured top left, has launched a National Development Plan to capitalize on the country’s resources and connectivity potential

2. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT
Côte d’Ivoire / P2
Built on solid foundations more than 50 years ago, the
National Investment Bank (BNI) has surmounted
great challenges and shown adaptability to change as Côte
d’Ivoire develops into an economic leader in West Africa.
Based in the nation’s economic capital Abidjan, BNI
boasts a long history of prioritizing the interests of Ivori-
ans, investing in the nation’s development and infrastruc-
ture (both public and private projects), as well as helping
to finance the agricultural sector, small to medium-sized
businesses, and the housing sector. It is also renowned for
brokering foreign investments, leading in the management
of national funds, and raising funds for capital markets.
BNI aims to be the bank for all, according to CEO Eugène
Kassi N’Da, as it is “more than a need, it
is a duty” to participate in the welfare of
Ivorians, he says.
Initially operated as a state-owned
bank,CaisseAutonomed’Amortissement
(Autonomous Amortization Fund), BNI
was created in 2004 when, according
to Mr. Kassi, it was necessary to leave
the fund concept in order to realize the
bank’s mission to improve the lives of
citizens and operate like a private bank,
all the while remaining a national bank.
“We want to be considered as a bank, not
as the state,” he says, pointing out that of
its 500 employees, there are no civil ser-
vants in the bank’s employ and that it is
regulated by BCEAO (the Central Bank of
West African States) just like other banks
in the region. The bank conducts its own
business and negotiations, raises funds independently and
selects its projects, thereby building an autonomous identity.
“If we want to be useful for the people, we must choose
to be a bank of details,” Mr. Kassi explains. Its dedication
to clients can be seen in its expansion of wide-ranging ser-
vices and diverse banking products, which include savings
solutions, insurance, loans and credit cards.
Although the banking rate remains low in the country, at
around 15 percent, Mr. Kassi says this must be improved
quickly, with BNI a central force “to advance this rate of
banking.” Accessibility has been key to BNI’s approach.
It has begun mobile banking services and has also been
steadily increasing its physical presence, providing greater
access and proximity for citizens. In fact, the bank has grown
from just three branches in 2004 to 30 branches, nearly half
of which are located in Abidjan.
Its BNI Gestion subsidiary was created for the manage-
ment of financial assets, and its chief responsibility is to
make wide-ranging investments on behalf of savers of all
kinds and provide access to large funds for ordinary savers.
This has had the positive effect of stimulating saving in the
country, according to Mr. Kassi.
BNI’s role in the economic development of the country has
remained constant, even as it adapts to the changing needs
of its people and its industries. It is involved in housing proj-
ects from start to finish, from dealing with developers to as-
sisting buyers. It has taken part in the construction of public
buildings, such as the recent construction of the toll highway
bridge Socoprim (Pont Henri-Konan-Bédié). BNI also main-
tains a central role in spearheading the raising of funds for
public interest projects, such as the National Water Fund, In-
dustrial Development Fund and the Port of Abidjan.
Agriculture,constituting60percentto70percentofthecoun-
try’s economy, remains a top priority and
has historically always been for BNI. It was
initially involved in the production of annui-
ties in well-established markets, such as
coffee and cocoa, and then, beginning in
the 2000s, providing structured financing
for the industry. It most recently added the
palm oil and cashew nut markets, the new
wave of products that comprise the future
of the country’s agricultural exports.
Although the country has gone through
tough economic times and growing pains,
Mr. Kassi assures that it is ripe for invest-
ment. The banking sector has struggled,
especially in 2010. At the time, BNI’s as-
sets totaled 274 billion CFA ($450 million);
today, they are almost 560 billion CFA.
“Things have really changed in the past
five years,” Mr. Kassi says. “The figures
speak volumes. The figures show that work has been done.”
Mr. Kassi is hopeful that although many things need to be
done, it all can be achieved. “We have the resources – both
natural and human resources,” he says.
The vision of a new Ivorian is emerging and this vision
can take the nation forward, he adds, with BNI playing its
part. “We are the only true intermediary between investors
and the Ivorian economy. For those who want to come with
investments, it is a partnership. It is the bank of transit. And
today we are really proud to welcome all investors and serve
as a transmission belt.”
This positive synergy, Mr. Kassi believes, is what it will
take for continued growth, and people need to take advan-
tage of this economic upturn. “We are in a country of truly
progressive and substantial growth. Today we say that Af-
rica is the continent on the rise. This is true in general, but
Côte d’Ivoire is among the countries where the growth rate
is strong due to the impressive work done by the President
of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Mr. Allassane
Ouattara and his government,” he says.
Assets more than double as BNI
spearheads national progress
BNI’SCEO emphasizes that Ivorians come first in a nation of “truly progressive and
substantial growth” and the welfare of the people is “more than a need, it is a duty”
Eugène Kassi N’Da, CEO of BNI
Founded in 1990 to bring electricity
to people across Côte d’Ivoire, today
the Compagnie Ivorienne d’Electricité
(CIE) has turned into a nationally rec-
ognized power utility that has netted
average profits of more than $13 mil-
lion over the past two years. Providing
“electricity to the greatest number of
clients at a reasonable price,” the CIE
is a mix of private and public organi-
zations that together deliver some
1.6 gigawatts of power to more than
1.3 million people.
According to CIE General Director
Dominique Kakou, the utility’s influence has begun to
spread beyond the borders of Côte d’Ivoire and into other
West African countries. Eranove, a principal CIE share-
holder, estimates that some 200 million people in the re-
gion still live without electricity.
“Today our country plays an important role in the region
and is preparing to act as an energy hub in the region,”
says Mr. Kakou. “And perhaps it can go a little further
beyond our reach today. It can expand to Mauritania be-
cause the interconnections are in preparation, and also
into Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea—it is not yet done,
but it is on its way. So that will reinforce our role in the
region, in addition to what we are doing in Ghana, Togo,
Benin and Mali.”
The general manager adds, “Côte d’Ivoire has never
been evasive with its responsibility vis-à-vis the West Af-
rican sub-region. Very soon all the countries around us
will find in Côte d’Ivoire the power to enable their own
development. And all that is planned in these countries
takes into account the capacity of Côte d’Ivoire to ac-
company them, because Côte d’Ivoire has always been,
I would not say generous, but mindful, that these are
brothers who live in poorer regions.”
Mr. Kakou, a 15-year veteran at the CIE, credits energy
as being a principle source of short-term wealth and de-
velopment in Côte d’Ivoire. Although company profits re-
cently fell slightly in 2015, Mr. Kakou says plans are still
in place to bring electricity to every citizen of the West
African nation.
The CIE has seen steady growth in national electricity
sales since 2007. Recent numbers show the power pro-
vider sold more 5,560 kilowatts per hour in 2014, up from
3,457 kilowatts per hour in 2007. The company has also
seen an uptick in exported energy.
“We actually bring electricity to penniless people in vil-
lages, who could have never afforded to pay for their own
electricity connection and subscription, not to mention
the installation inside their house,” says Mr. Kakou.
“We proposed a project [along
these lines] to the government.
They agreed and adopted it, and
this has given rise to the Electric-
ity for All program. We have already
helped 50,000 customers in just a
few months, which shows the enthu-
siasm of the population for having
electricity in their home.”
Mr. Kakou says the CIE and Côte
d’Ivoire are now setting their sights
on developing renewable energies
that can be used in the near future.
“There is a desire to improve and
consolidate the energy mix in Côte d’Ivoire,” he explains.
“We are doing it according to our means. We have many
hydroelectricity sites that are not yet developed today.
But if we look at new renewable energy sources, such as
solar, wind and biomass, they are things that we could
get into quite fast.”
Electricity provider prepares to
become a regional energy hub
DIVERSIFYING the country’s energy supply mix, increasing access to the national
grid and expanding regional links feature among the CIE’s plans for the future
Dominique Kakou, General Director of the CIE
“We have many
hydroelectricity
sites that are not
yet developed
today. We could
get into new
renewable energy
sources quite fast”
th
on
te
ng
an
ts
ill
Mr.

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Côte d’Ivoire / P3
Coffee and cocoa leader sets ambitious, yet achievable,
goals for production and sustainability
WORLD-CLASS coffee and cocoa producer Côte d’Ivoire is expanding the capacity, benefits and added value of its premium-grade products
Following a decade of political and military unrest, and
bloody post-election violence in 2011, Côte d’Ivoire has
stabilized its economy and shown great promise of a strong
rebound. Between 2012 and 2014, it had an economic
growth rate of 9 percent, thanks largely to its production
of cocoa. According to the World Bank, cocoa represents
22 percent of its GDP, more than 50 percent of its exports,
and employs more than two-thirds of the population. In the
2014/2015 season, the country produced a record 1.8 mil-
lion tons of cocoa, or roughly 40 percent of world supply.
By 2020, government leaders expect that number to reach
over 50 percent.
Largely fueling the country’s extraordinary cocoa produc-
tion is first President Félix Houphouët-Bogny’s commitment
to making his country an agricultural powerhouse. Starting in
2012, the entire coffee and cocoa industry had to be reformed,
following years of profiteering which occurred under the Gbag-
boregime.Twenty-twoseniorofficialswereprosecutedforcor-
ruption and misappropriation of funds, and the Coffee-Cocoa
Council (Conseil du Café-Cocoa, CCC) was formed. Modeled
after the Ghana Cocoa Board, the CCC is headed by Massandjé
Touré-Litsé. She was appointed by President Alassane Outtara,
who also counts increasing agricultural output and domestic
processing among his top priorities. “I want to work on trans-
forming the Ivorian economy,” he told Bloomberg. “We are an
agricultural economy, but we need to step up processing of our
crops and even move toward industrialization.”
A U.S.-trained financial technician, Ms. Touré-Litsé now
oversees the CCC and executes the government’s vision to ac-
celerate reforms, particularly regarding the improvement of
competitiveness of local processing companies. Its main ob-
jectives include maintaining Côte d’Ivoire’s position as a world
leader in the production of cocoa, producing 200,000 tons of
coffee per year starting in 2020, and improving the quality of
its coffee and cocoa.
At the same time, there are plans to ensure that at least
60 percent of the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) price goes
to coffee and cocoa producers, to improve the living con-
ditions of producers, to raise the minimum wage for other
workers to 60,000 CFA ($98) per month, and to domestically
process 50 percent of its cocoa and 35 percent of the coun-
try’s coffee by 2020.
Current figures indicate that these goals are ambitious, but
realistic. By the end of the 2014-2015 harvest, cocoa produc-
tion reached nearly 1.8 million tons, representing an increase
of 2.8 percent compared to the previous crop year. Likewise,
coffee production totaled 126,587 tons, or an increase of 20
percent over the previous season. This means that produc-
tion will have to increase by another 37 percent over the next
four years to meet 2020 objectives. Already, the International
Cocoa Organization predicts Côte d’Ivoire will become the
world’s top processor of cocoa beans.
Thanks to increased monitoring and training for im-
proved agricultural practices, the cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire
is now marketed with better origin premium. The cocoa
rate in grades 1 and 2 passed from 81 percent to 91 per-
cent, and the moisture content of cocoa in factories is 7.8
percent, compared with over 12 percent prior to the re-
forms. Also, as a result of increased quality control, the
rate of foreign substances found in the cocoa received by
factories has dropped from 3 percent to 1 percent.
Sustainable development
The strategy for the sustainable development of the
coffee-cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire described in the local
government’s 2QC (Quantité Quantité Croissance) plan,
which is based on a platform of public-private partner-
ships aimed at coordinating efforts and initiatives as well
as mobilizing resources. The overall cost of the program
is 450 billion CFA francs over 10 years, or $750 million per
year, and includes partnerships with chocolate makers
such as Mars that help the CCC conduct the critical com-
munity development work needed to support cocoa and
coffee growers. Together, they organize activities to help
improve productivity and determine the needs of local
populations. “We are very satisfied with this approach,”
Ms. Touré-Litsé told the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative. “We
presided over ceremonies to inaugurate schools, health
centers and [water] pumps. Communities are really in-
volved in the whole process.”
She added: “Mars pioneered this in the industry. They
had the vision to become associated
with the CCC not only to boost produc-
tivity, but also to support local cocoa
producing communities.”
As part of the reforms geared at
improving the lives of farmers in the
coffee-cocoa sector, the Rural Invest-
ment Fund (Fonds d’Investissement
en Milieu Rural – FIMR) oversaw the
construction of nearly 2,000km (1,243
miles) of roads, and much-needed re-
pairs on yet another 2,500km worth of
roads. Four hundred new wells were
equipped with pumps while another
400 existing wells had their pumps replaced. Sixty ambu-
lances were put into circulation and six health centers and
nurses’ residencies were built. At the same time, 13 vil-
lages were equipped with rural electrification kits, while
10 primary schools were built, along with accommodation
for 60 teachers. Furthermore, 39,000 school kits and 5,000
tables and benches were distributed, and nine 4X4 vehicles
and 19 motorcycles were distributed to the police force.
Critical to the success of the sustainable develop-
ment of coffee and cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire is
communication. The government, technical ministries,
partners, and international coffee and cocoa institutions
must contribute to the establishment of best practices
in the sector and share statistical and economic data
to ensure its management. Of particular importance is
the widespread use of an electronic system to track crop
forecasts to help ensure accurate inventories and allow
for the traceability of farm-gate commercial transac-
tions and real-time boarding. Control devices already
help guarantee the accuracy of information regarding
price, quantity and quality, and physical inventories at
the entrances to factory mills and exporter warehouses
are also already common practice.
Selling more than beans
In an effort to add value to the coffee and cocoa trade, the
government is also finding ways to encourage higher process-
ing rates through the promotion of small and medium-sized
industries based on producer organizations, and incentivizing a
framework for investment. It is also expected that an increase
in domestic consumption will encourage processing and inno-
vation at home. At present, products tailored to the consump-
tion habits and environments of African populations are being
developed. Other new goodies and updated packaging for exist-
ing products are also being developed to entice local consum-
ers who have not yet developed a taste for chocolate.
“We wanted to be able to…make chocolate for Ivorians, for
Africans and especially West Africans,” President Alassane
Ouattara told the Mail and Guardian Africa following a tour
of a multimillion-dollar factory for con-
verting cocoa beans. Owned by the Sin-
gaporean company Olam, the factory
has a production capacity of 75 million
tons of cocoa beans per year and is ex-
pected to help produce “made in Côte
d’Ivoire” chocolate on an industrial scale
for the first time.
Converting the cocoa beans locally
means giving more work to Ivorians,
bringing more revenue to the state and
contributing to the development of the
cocoa industry. The government hopes
to keep pushing toward the export of fin-
ished and semi-finished products.
Côte d’Ivoire has made a deal with French chocolate-
maker Cemoi, which has invested €6 million ($6.5 million)
in a factory to produce chocolate powder, bars and break-
fast spread to sell in West Africa. “There is in this region the
strong emergence of a middle class that has the purchasing
power to buy real chocolate,” said Cemoi Executive Director
Patrick Poirrier. Cemoi will be the first Western company to
operate a chocolate factory in Côte d’Ivoire, and is setting
an excellent example for other countries in the region that
aspire to similar levels of direct foreign investment.
“Our country is the top producer of agricultural products in
sub-Saharan Africa,” said Mamadou Sangafowa, the Minister
of Agriculture, in an interview with Financial Afrik. “We have
become a point of reference on the African continent and have
surpassed Cameroon and Nigeria to become the top perform-
er in the agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Adding that Côte d’Ivoire is also the world leader in the
export of cashews, cola nuts and bananas, and a leading ex-
porter of mango and palm oil, he also stated with pride that
it has now become one of the most desirable places for in-
vestment in agriculture. Overall, the country seems on track
to a sweeter future.
“Mars had the
vision to become
associated with the
CCC not only to boost
productivity, but
also to support local
cocoa-producing
communities”
Massandjé Touré-Litsé,
CEO of the Coffee-Cocoa Council

4. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT
Côte d’Ivoire / P4
ARTCI’s CEO Bilé Diéméléou Amon Gabriel explains how
Côte d’Ivoire’s ICT regulatory body hopes to usher in a
new era of regulation that will allow the country to embrace
new digital advances in the coming years.
There is a call from the financial community to interna-
tional investors to provide the sort of high-tech equipment
that the country’s ICT sector needs. How are you attracting
these investments?
Until now, everything has gone very well. The operators
respect the legislation. Consumers also
play their role. Our role as regulator is to
be at the center of this triangle. On the
one side is the state, which has mandated
us. On the second side is the consumer
and on the third side are the operators –
the same that invest to satisfy the needs
of consumers.
Our role is to make sure that any inves-
tor who comes is sure that their data will
be secure. The president did not want to
create a national protection authority, as
has been done in other countries. He said
it was the management of men, dossiers
and data. We did all this in the regulatory
authority. We are therefore, at the same
time, the national protection authority.
In terms of economic transactions, we
are also the certification authority, as we
are also the postal authority.
All of this is part of our vision to boost the economy and de-
sire to make Côte d’Ivoire a competitive country. We may not
be the best in the world, but we must approach that. Start-
ups and young people who are innovating do not want to miss
the train of development. They say that we too have to get on
that train. We are the financiers; we are the regulator. We
have to help young people develop their projects. It will also
be for the good of the country, the happiness of Ivorians.
Security and cyber crime are regulatory authority respon-
sibilities. How are you adapting to today’s digital life to
combat this crime?
The fight against cyber crime is also an important part of
our business. So we had to set up a platform to fight against
cyber crime, which is an agreement between the national
police and the telecommunications regulatory authority.
We have a law and we set up the CI-CERT (Côte d’Ivoire
Computer Emergency Response Team) which will soon al-
low us to be connected to our partners around the world.
It is so that when we have to track something, we can –
like the FBI or Interpol – exchange data to search for cyber
criminals. It is going so well with the Directorate of Infor-
mation and Technology Traces (DITT). We are so symbiotic
that we support them in their research, and there are cy-
ber criminals that are now in jail. In 2015, there were 159
people sentenced.
What gave the country a bad reputation in the past was
what was said of Côte d’Ivoire. We are no longer blacklisted
as before. And we are making it known that we have the am-
bition of ensuring that cyber criminals
will no longer engage in that game.
Children who go to an Internet cafe
must first identify themselves; from a
certain age they do not have the right to
look for dangerous sites, and they can
only search for information. Here, all
Internet cafes are identified. And when
you arrive in an Internet cafe to make
a transaction, you automatically have
the webcam recording you without you
knowing. That information is subse-
quently stored. If there is a problem, it
automatically leaves a trace.
What does the .ci domain represent for
“Made in Côte d’Ivoire” and what is its
added value for local investors who are
going to export abroad?
The country’s seriousness. To have a
domain named for our country really shows that we are a
serious country. And we are working to promote the domain
name to show people that they must adopt the domain of the
country; they should let .com or .net go. We must be using
.ci; it is important.
I think that any investor who comes needs to have a .ci do-
main available as part of their package; it will give them con-
fidence. We need to ensure that the domain name sells well,
because if you have another domain, it declines the country’s
value. So it should be used and be made available to all those
who invest in Cote d’Ivoire.
We expect to make our brand respected. For us it is a
brand, a seal of quality, security and performance.
Regulator tackles cyber
crime to make ICT secure
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ICT Regulatory Body of Côte d’ Ivoire, ARTCI,
has played a key role in allaying any ICT safety concerns investors may have
and is promoting the .ci domain as a seal of quality, security and performance
Bilé Diéméléou Amon Gabriel,
CEO of ARTCI
Côte d’Ivoire’s telecommunications minister says the
West African country is focused on bringing modern
technology to more of its citizens in the coming years.
National leaders affirm they have been making strides in
bringing modern technology to more of the country’s citi-
zens recently and aim to increase their gains in the years
ahead. Recent legislation has sought
to streamline technological growth and
expand the reach of the nation’s digital
infrastructure.
“Our focus was mainly to make imme-
diately accessible Internet service to the
greatest number of people,” says Minis-
ter of Post and Digital Economy Bruno
Koné. “From 200,000 users in 2011, to-
day there are now more than 7 million
users with 3G, which was launched with
all the other solutions to popularize the
Internet. For me, it was the priority be-
cause the Internet today is more than a communication tool,
it is a development tool. It is a means to improve the living
conditions of the population; it is a way to create value; it is
a means to provide employment to our youth.”
Mr. Koné is optimistic about the potential of Côte d’Ivoire,
pointing in particular to the country’s recent economic fig-
ures. “Our growth rate has averaged 9 percent over the past
four years,” he says. “We were at 9 percent in 2015, and for
the next five years we will probably be between 8 percent and
9 percent. There are few countries with such a performance
worldwide. We can see the infrastructure that has been made
and we can see the improvement in living conditions of people
with the electrification program, the potable water supply
program, the establishment of schools, health centers, et-
cetera; all these political reforms are focused on the people’s
well-being. We can see a real change in the lives of Ivorians
compared with four or five years ago. And that is the purpose
of politics: to improve the living conditions of the population.”
Mr. Koné highlights a national program aimed at bringing a
sustainable digital infrastructure to a greater number of Ivo-
rians. Called “a citizen, a computer, an Internet connection,”
the project aims to bring modern technologies to people who
have limited financial resources.
“The idea is to reduce the cost of access and to facilitate
the acquisition of ICT through credit that is available to the
buyer,” says the minister. “We also work on collective initia-
tives by providing local communities and small villages ac-
cess to what we call cyber centers; we are creating small
centers with 10 to 20 computers, depending on the size of the
community, in rural and urban areas, to enable people who
cannot buy a computer to have access to all these resources
that are available through the Internet.”
Ivorian officials are also looking to encourage young en-
trepreneurs who might otherwise try to take their business
outside Côte d’Ivoire. According to Mr. Koné, one-third of
Ivorian public institutions contain multimedia classrooms.
In addition, he says that the Ivorian
government wants to participate in the
launch of an incubation center in the
southwest city of Grand-Bassam. This
facility would be used to train young
entrepreneurs who have projects of
commercial interest.
He encourages young Ivorians to
think of their country and its commer-
cial capital, Abidjan, as a place to do
business. “There is no need to emigrate
to the United States or Europe, or work
for an American or European company,”
he says. “It is possible to be in Abidjan and do outsourcing, to
be here and work on software or applications for a company
that is based in Silicon Valley. It is possible to be in Abidjan
and to be a global player in this area, because other countries
have succeeded and we see the talent shown by our youth in
this matter. Our struggle today is to showcase these young
people, to give them the ability to take responsibility, to give
them the opportunity to contribute to their country too, be-
cause after all it is our country that will benefit.”
Technology advances make
remote working possible
WIDER,cheaperandfasteraccesstoinformation,communicationandtechnology
(ICT)servicesandequipmentinruralandurbanareasisopeningdigitaloptionsto
a greater number of Ivorians and creating opportunities of working online
Bruno Koné, Minister of Post and Digital Economy
Figures from Abidjan Port Authority, a transportation
center located in the southern zone of Côte d’Ivoire,
confirm an increase in the amount of imported and export-
ed tons coming through the berths in recent years, and rep-
resentatives of the port say they expect this traffic to remain
steady in the years ahead.
The port’s managing director, Hien Yacouba Sie, points
to President Ouattara’s re-election as a sign that investor
confidence in Côte d’Ivoire – and, subsequently, in Ivorian
shipping – will also stay strong over the next five years.
“I would just like to say to investors, to operators, local,
national and international ones, that the re-election of the
president gives us greater visibility in terms of stability of
the economic environment, which enables us to make pro-
jections more precisely. There is no worse scenario for an
investor than having no horizon,” says Mr. Sie. “It is the
same for us as a port. We work for the economy and to en-
sure the emergence of this economy. We work in traffic;
traffic not for ourselves but for our economy. And we work
for export and import operators. We also work to provide
investors with the right space they need and installation re-
quirements that they have.”
Mr. Sie explains that the port has not gone through any
significant improvements since the mid-1970s, although
the economic conditions of Côte d’Ivoire have changed
drastically in the interim.
International observers have given plaudits to Mr. Ouat-
tara for helping rebuild the Ivorian economy and infra-
structure following the ousting of former president Laurent
Gbagbo in 2011.
Since then, Côte d’Ivoire has enjoyed a sustained increase
in foreign investment and economic growth. U.S. govern-
ment figures indicate that the Ivorian economy has expe-
rienced an average GDP expansion rate of approximately 8
percent over the past three years.
According to Mr. Sie, the Port of Abidjan was working dur-
ing this period to institute a number of projects designed to
modernize the waterways. These plans, worth $934 million,
will widen and deepen the port’s main canal and build a new
container terminal.
“Financing was acquired from Eximbank of China to en-
able us to face up to the costs, because our current weak-
ness is not being able to receive large ships. However, with
these projects in the upcoming decades, we will receive
ships from the coastline and bring them through the canal
to the berths,” he says.
Recent additions to the port have also made it a more
lucrative destination for the fishing industry as well, ac-
cording to Mr. Sie. The section of the port dedicated to the
fishing industry was recently expanded to accommodate
larger vessels. An increase in the overall size of the port’s
wharf system has also led to further plans for new tuna
treatment centers.
“In Côte d’Ivoire, the tuna industry could convert the Port
of Abidjan into a relevant exporter of tuna products, al-
though tuna is not produced in Côte d’Ivoire. Fishing is done
in North Africa, from Mauritania to Algeria. People come
here with the product for processing and then export,” ex-
plains Mr. Sie. He also highlights other projects currently
under way at the port, including the creation of increased
industrial spaces for operators and new logistic platforms.
Mr. Sie believes that Mr. Ouattara’s presidential victory
gives the port a guarantee that these plans will be success-
fully completed.
He adds that the port is looking to bring in new workers
and train them in a number of different roles, and that these
employees will represent a vital part of the Ivorian economy
in the future.
“If Côte d’Ivoire today, after so many years of crisis, has
been able to quickly recover, it is because there are trained
people. Côte d’Ivoire has significant executives, human re-
sources and brainpower. It is important. This is the primary
wealth of a company,” he says.
Expansion of the Port of
Abidjan reflects confidence
THE PORT Authorities say they are optimistic that the recent re-election of
President Alassane Ouattara, as well as the modernization and expansion
of the port, will spark renewed interest in shipping via West African states
Hien Yacouba Sie, Managing Director of Abidjan Port Authority
“We are creating
small cyber centers
in rural and urban
areas to enable
people who cannot
buy a computer
to have access to
digital resources”