This chapter includes the following articles.
Banking
The banking sector has been central to the country’s ongoing economic recovery, providing a strong growth platform for lenders operating in Côte d’Ivoire. As liquidity demands become stricter, new opportunities for mergers and acquisitions may arise – especially as some smaller competitors face difficulties raising new capital and expanding their customer base. Challenges for the sector’s growth in the short term notably include the 2020 presidential election, which may lead investors to adopt a wait-and-see approach. On a global level, it remains to be seen how far – and for how long – banking operations and economic activity more broadly will be disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the ongoing integration of more stringent liquidity and lending ratios is helping to solidify the Ivorian banking sector. This chapter contains interviews with Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, Governor, Central Bank of West African States; and Jean-Luc Konan, Managing Director, Groupe COFINA.
