Abidjan, May 15, 2025 – The government of Côte d’Ivoire has taken significant steps to support Ivorian businesses in boosting their exports. Dr. Benjamin Walker, Director of Market Development at Côte d’Ivoire Export Agency, shared this information on Thursday, May 15, 2025, during Gouv’Space — an audio discussion platform initiated by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG) on the social network X.
“The role of the Côte d’Ivoire Export Agency is to facilitate access to international markets and improve the export performance of Ivorian companies,” stated Dr. Walker. Since the agency’s creation by the State in 2022, it has supported 400 Ivorian businesses. Some sectors have been prioritized in this support, including cashew, oil palm, rubber, tropical fruits, cotton-textile and apparel, shea, honey, ICT, and more.
According to Dr. Walker, while the agency's mission is to facilitate and improve the export performance of Ivorian enterprises, the companies themselves must be legally established, possess an export code, and have the capacity to export their products regularly.
Nevertheless, access to financing, market readiness, lack of trade information, and product promotion remain major challenges for these SMEs. This is why Côte d’Ivoire Export Agency is committed to supporting them with practical advice to help identify and understand their target markets and effectively present their products internationally. Additionally, the SME Guarantee Company was created by the State to help facilitate their access to financing from banks and financial institutions.
The Ivorian diaspora also plays a crucial role in opening up foreign markets to local products, including less-known markets such as Austria and the Middle East.
To encourage more businesses to register in its database and benefit from its services, the Côte d’Ivoire Export Agency remains accessible through its social media platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook) and its website: www.cotedivoireexport.ci. As Dr. Walker noted: “It’s not just about wanting to export—it’s about being able to.”