India–Côted’Ivoire Relations:A DynamicEconomic Partnership
H. E. Eric Camille N’Dry,
Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to India
India and Côte d’Ivoire established diplomatic ties in 1962and signed a key trade agreement in New Delhi on 17February, 1993. Since then, their partnership has evolved into a strategic alliance, marked by robust cooperation in agriculture, technology, infrastructure, and healthcare. Both nations operate under the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) framework of the World Trade Organization, which ensures equitable trade terms. Ivorian goods enter India subject to standard WTO-member duties, while Indian exports to Côte d’Ivoire follow the ECOWAS Common External Tariff system.
Bilateral trade reached a total of CFA 804.05 billion (3.75% of Côte d’Ivoire’s global trade), with exports averaging CFA 248.18 billion and imports CFA 445.56 billion between 2019 and 2023. Although Côte d’Ivoire recorded a trade surplus of CFA 13.18 billion in 2019, a cumulative deficit of CFA 387.28 billion followed, in the years 2020–2023.
In 2023, Ivorian exports to India were dominated by cashew nuts, natural rubber, processed wood, manganese, and cotton. Imports from India included rice, pharmaceuticals, passenger vehicles, machinery, and refined petroleum products. To deepen economic ties, Côte d’Ivoire is encouraged to establish a Côte d’Ivoire–India Economic Forum to strengthen private sector collaboration. Also, boost trade promotion efforts and sector-specific investment events. Aligned with its 2021–2025 National Development Plan, Côte d’Ivoire is prioritizing value-added local processing of raw materials like cocoa, coffee, cashews, rubber, fruits, and vegetables. The government has introduced fiscal incentives and support mechanisms to enhance industrial competitiveness and attract private investment. India’s private sector is invited to actively participate in this initiative—promising shared prosperity for both nations.
