Industry & Mining

Once considered West Africa’s industrial powerhouse, Côte d’Ivoire’s manufacturing sector was badly affected by a decade of political unrest that curtailed further expansion. However, this is gradually being reversed as political stability and consecutive years of economic growth are enhancing the environment for industrial development and helping to diversify the country’s production base. Putting the right fiscal and legislative incentives in place will be vital for the authorities as they look to increase local processing. Besides for strengthening traditionally strategic industries, the attention to new sectors, such as mining, are set to help to diversify the economy, create employment and, in the case of mining specifically, channel new development money into communities. This chapter contains interviews with Ramzi Omais, Chairman and CEO, SOTICI; and Kadjo Kouamé, Managing Director, Société d’Etat pour le Développement Minier de Côte d’Ivoire.