Côte d’Ivoire – Netherlands: strengthening a strategic partnership for sustainable agriculture and development

“Our ambition is to support Côte d’Ivoire towards more productive agriculture,” says H.E.M. Jeroen Kelderhuis, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Côte d’Ivoire, in an interview he granted us. During our discussions, he highlighted the priorities of Dutch cooperation: technological innovation, capacity building for producers, and support for value chains to improve productivity and resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges. He also took the opportunity to present Curaçao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and to use the occasion of the 2026 World Cup to build economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

Could you describe the evolution of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Côte d’Ivoire over the past 10 years?

Over the past ten years, relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Côte d’Ivoire have intensified and diversified.

We have moved from a relationship mainly focused on trade to a strategic partnership covering agriculture, infrastructure, economic development, climate resilience, security, and stability. We are also a major contributor within multilateral cooperation, both as a member state of the European Union and through multilateral development institutions such as the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The presence of Dutch companies has strengthened, as has that of financial institutions such as the Dutch public investment bank (Invest International), and soon the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), which will open its Francophone Africa office in Abidjan at the end of 2026.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands had the honor of being the guest country of honor at the sixth edition of the International Agriculture and Animal Resources Exhibition (SARA) in 2023, and last year a very strong delegation of Dutch companies and organizations also participated in SARA 2025.

Exchange missions between our two countries have also intensified. I can mention, for example, the joint mission of the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries and the Ministry of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production to the Netherlands in April 2025.

Similarly, since the beginning of 2026, we have received around eight high-level delegations from various institutions and the Dutch private sector interested in investing in Côte d’Ivoire. In February 2026, the CEO of the public investment bank Invest International was in Côte d’Ivoire and was received by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

For example, in April 2026, we received a large delegation of 19 Dutch organizations and companies from the seed, horticulture, and potato sectors. Shortly after, we received a delegation from the Port of Amsterdam, which intends to strengthen its partnership with the ports of Abidjan and San-Pedro.

This June 2026, we also received a large delegation from the Dutch development bank (FMO) led by its CEO and regional Africa directors. FMO has already invested more than €200 million in infrastructure projects in Côte d’Ivoire. These investments are expected to increase rapidly with the upcoming opening of their Francophone Africa office in Abidjan.

These examples demonstrate the dynamism of cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. We intend to go further together through the launch of our multi-year cooperation strategy 2026–2029, aligned with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan.

What are the main areas of bilateral cooperation between our two countries, and how does agriculture fit into this strategy?

Our bilateral cooperation is based on three main pillars: strengthening political and multilateral relations; sustainable economic development and promotion of trade and investment; and security and stability, including the fight against terrorism and organized crime. Agriculture is at the heart of this strategy.

It connects our economic interests (cocoa, cashew, horticulture, seeds, sustainable inputs) with Ivorian priorities in food security, industrialization, and youth employment, as expressed in sectoral strategies and the National Development Plan 2026–2030. This includes programs such as HortiNord and Orange CocoaPro, which aim to fully exploit the potential of the cocoa pod, including beans, mucilage, and husk.

Regarding cocoa specifically, we intend to continue supporting Côte d’Ivoire in small-scale transformation at the cooperative level and in the valorization of by-products and waste within the circular economy framework (through a research and development program on circularity in the cocoa sector).

In addition, our support focuses on the development of the seed sector and circular poultry farming, with the aim of building more productive, resilient, and inclusive value chains, particularly in the northern part of the country.

The Netherlands is known for its expertise in sustainable agriculture; how is this reflected in your support to Côte d’Ivoire?

The Netherlands is a small country of about 18 million people, covering 41,543 km²—about nine times smaller than Côte d’Ivoire and 230 times smaller than the United States. Yet we are the world’s third-largest exporter of agricultural products, behind Brazil and the United States. This exceptional performance is built on innovation, efficiency, and resilience in our agricultural system.

Our ambition is to support Côte d’Ivoire toward more productive agriculture, but also one that is more respectful of soil, water, biodiversity, and climate. We adopt a systemic approach, intervening across the entire value chain. Concretely:

• We have established, in partnership with the Autonomous District of Yamoussoukro, a horticultural training and demonstration center, the Ivorian-Dutch excellence center MOYÉ in Toumbokro;

• We support the dissemination of agroecological and agroforestry practices in the cocoa sector;

• We promote circular solutions to valorize agricultural waste (compost, black soldier flies, mushrooms, etc.);

• We promote sustainable inputs through a Dutch supplier “biokit” for fertilizers and biological products, as well as a study funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on improving access to quality compost for cocoa farmers;

• We also support local processing, notably through assistance to a cooperative in Sassandra to set up a cocoa processing unit for butter and cocoa mass production;

• We train and finance young entrepreneurs in cocoa, horticulture, and circular economy through the Orange Corners program;

• In partnership with UNDP and Nitidæ, we work on biodiversity promotion and conservation, contributing to the 30×30 global biodiversity framework goal, which aims for 30% of land and marine areas to be protected or effectively conserved by 2030.

What specific programs are the Netherlands currently funding to modernize and mechanize Ivorian agriculture?

Our approach is based on a win-win cooperation model, combining development aid with trade promotion. A financing program has been designed for countries like Côte d’Ivoire, combining development assistance and commercial partnerships. Programs such as Combi-Track HORTINORD and ORANGE COCOA Pro directly or indirectly contribute to modernizing and mechanizing Ivorian agriculture.

Through the MOYÉ Center, we support training in the use of modern irrigation equipment and soil restoration techniques. Support for cocoa processing will eventually allow a pilot project that can be scaled up, giving entrepreneurs and cooperatives better access to processing machinery and the European market via the Netherlands.

Finally, through Invest International (with a financing agreement worth €300 million) and other instruments, we support infrastructure projects in ports, logistics, and water essential for mechanized and competitive agriculture. The Dutch development bank FMO, with a portfolio of over €200 million, finances agricultural investments such as cocoa and cashew, as well as renewable energy projects.

How do the Netherlands collaborate with the Ivorian government and local actors (agro-entrepreneurs, companies) to train farmers in modern equipment use?

We work closely with the Ivorian ministries of Agriculture, Animal Resources, Environment, and Youth, as well as institutions such as ANADER, universities, and training centers. The MOYÉ center is a good example of co-construction: it brings together Ivorian partners, Dutch companies, and international organizations such as IFAD.

Together with our partners, we organize:

• Practical training on equipment use and maintenance;

• Field demonstrations on pilot farms and plots;

• Incubation programs for young agro-entrepreneurs;

• Sector workshops with cooperatives, processors, and service providers.

The goal is for farmers not only to use equipment but to become actors capable of selecting, managing, and maintaining it.

What commitments are the Netherlands making to strengthen agricultural mechanization in Côte d’Ivoire?

In the coming years, we aim to:

• Consolidate and expand the MOYÉ model as a regional hub for training and innovation;

• Strengthen financial partnerships with Invest International, FMO, Rabobank, DGGF, the African Development Bank, and others to support mechanization and agro-industrial transformation projects;

• Further integrate mechanization into our cocoa, cashew, and horticulture programs.

Our future commitments will continue to combine technical expertise and local capacity building, aligned with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan.

What impact have these initiatives already had on Ivorian agricultural productivity, and what are the prospects?

We are already observing positive impacts, although we remain cautious and realistic. We still need impact studies to fully confirm our observations.

In the Orange Corners incubation program, for example, several agricultural entrepreneurs are now becoming real models of resilience and success after participating in the program. We are hopeful that these young people will become the builders of Côte d’Ivoire’s future economy.

What policy do you implement to support youth for better public diplomacy?

Youth is central to the implementation of our multi-year strategy. In addition to the Orange Corners program and the MOYÉ Center, which have a concrete impact on young entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire, we have implemented initiatives to strengthen youth leadership at the community level, civic engagement, and political participation.

As part of this engagement, the Embassy accepted the request of the youth of Yopougon to have the Netherlands as guest country of honor at the International Youth Forum held from June 25 to 27 in Yopougon. The Embassy supports these youth through training sessions, conferences, panel participation, and a cultural evening.

In partnership with UNDP, we implemented a civic education and youth political participation program in 2025. This program supported youth initiatives promoting dialogue and non-violence during electoral processes. Some of these young people even ran as candidates in the December 2025 legislative elections. We intend to continue this initiative with the Ministry of Youth and our partners in the coming years.

Curaçao will face Côte d’Ivoire on June 25, 2026, during the World Cup. Does this mean sport is now part of your people-to-people diplomacy?

Absolutely. Sport is an important tool for bringing people closer together. We want to seize the opportunity of the first-ever men’s football match between Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire to further strengthen ties between our peoples.

To this end, during the International Youth Forum in Yopougon, we will organize a cultural evening combined with a live screening of the Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire match on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Furthermore, discussions are ongoing for cultural exchange initiatives between Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire beyond this sporting event, based on historical and cultural ties.