CATEGORY: OBG CEO Surveys
As a strong advocate of economic and trade integration in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire has placed great emphasis on rebuilding and extending region-wide infrastructure networks. Such efforts have the local business community upbeat, with 68% of the 100 respondents in the 2019 edition of the Business Barometer: Côte d’Ivoire CEO Survey saying the African Continental Free Trade Agreement will have a positive or very positive impact on intra-regional trade. While moves to encourage economic diversification are well under way, the majority of executives (33%) say that agriculture will remain the primary driver of economic growth in 2025, closely followed by industry (30%).
Though there is broad agreement that Colombia faces many structural challenges, the overall outlook for the economy is positive. Of the C-suite executives interviewed in the OBG Business Barometer: Colombia CEO Survey, 91% indicate that they feel positive or very positive about local business conditions in the coming 12 months. Underpinning this positive sentiment is Colombia’s rise in prominence on the global platform amid the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. However, CEOs note that infrastructure will remain a priority for the country’s development, with the majority (51%) stating road infrastructure as the most crucial.
CEOs in Colombia remain largely positive about the economy, in part given the country’s rising prominence in global political affairs amid the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. However, they are also in broad agreement regarding the numerous structural challenges the country faces in the short to medium term.