Recently gathered at the Ivotel Hotel in Plateau, members of the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee (CAEF) presented the findings of information missions conducted in July 2025 on the illegal trade of coffee, cocoa, and cashew nuts.

This strategic workshop was organized by the Country Capacity Strengthening Program (PPRC), with financial support from the World Bank, through the Project for Improved Governance and Delivery of Basic Services to Citizens (PAGDS).

At the heart of the workshop were the results of a detailed and candid diagnostic on a persistent phenomenon, despite government actions such as the “Verrou 322” operation launched in October 2024.

The parliamentary missions highlighted the root causes of this parallel market activity, including:

·       the pursuit of higher profits in informal circuits,

·       weakened regulation of flows and pricing,

·       significant tax losses, and ultimately,

·       threats to economic stability, social cohesion, and security in some regions.

Opening the session, MP M’Ba Coulibaly, CAEF rapporteur representing its president, praised the quality of the work and resolutions adopted, which he said could serve as a roadmap for the new legislative term. He also commended the World Bank’s ongoing support and encouraged the PPRC to intensify its efforts to strengthen state institutions in public governance.

For the PPRC, the challenge goes beyond simple reporting. National Coordinator Ludovic Kouamé, representing Cynthia Curtis, stressed that cocoa, coffee, and cashew are at the core of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic model and vital for the livelihoods of millions of producers. He emphasized the need to translate findings into concrete, coordinated, and sustainable actions, in line with the ambitions of the National Development Plan 2026-2030.

Through this initiative, the PPRC aims to enhance parliamentary capacity, improve governance of key agricultural sectors, and secure farmers’ incomes—a crucial step to curb illegal trade.

The workshop thus represents a key milestone in building a comprehensive, coordinated, and forward-looking response, designed to protect the nation’s strategic interests and ensure inclusive and sustainable growth by 2030.