Côte d’Ivoire unveils CFAF 731 billion investment opportunities in rice sector
Côte d’Ivoire has presented 16 investment opportunities in the food-crop sector to 24 Italian companies, including 13 projects focused on rice production. The proposed rice-sector investments total CFAF 731.6 billion ($1.2 billion), with annual turnover projected at CFAF 221.2 billion once operations reach full capacity.
Bernard Kini Comoé, minister delegate in charge of food-crop production, chaired the roundtable on behalf of Agriculture Minister Bruno Nabagné Koné. The initiative aims to attract foreign investment, boost domestic agricultural production, reduce reliance on food imports and strengthen the country’s food sovereignty.
One of the flagship projects involves developing 35,000 hectares of irrigated farmland in Kossou and Buyo, requiring an estimated CFAF 355 billion. Other opportunities include agricultural mechanization, seed production, the rehabilitation of rice-growing areas, storage infrastructure and the modernization of processing facilities.
The investment drive also covers vegetables and tuber crops. Two platforms for vegetable preservation and processing in Abengourou and Daloa would require CFAF 28 billion. Industrial cassava starch production and the manufacturing of locally sourced flours are also among the opportunities presented to investors.
Italy’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Roberta Di Lecce, highlighted Italian companies’ expertise in irrigation, agricultural machinery and agro-industrial equipment. She stressed the importance of robust feasibility studies to ensure the projects can be implemented successfully.
Italy has also announced strategic support worth CFAF 131.2 billion to help finance Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND).
Ivorian authorities are seeking to turn discussions with Italian companies into concrete investments. However, the figures presented represent projected investment needs, and no details were provided on which projects have secured financing or when implementation is expected to begin.
