Industry & Retail

Government initiatives to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial base have continued to yield results. However, despite public investment and government policies that have attracted private participation to the industrial sector, 2020 is likely to be a challenging year, with firms waiting to invest due to supply chain disruptions and the negative demand-side effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, current policies and investments already under way leave the country’s industrial sector well positioned for continued growth over the medium and long term. Moreover, the rising number of internet users, which reached 12m in 2018, has fuelled opportunities in e-commerce. While Côte d’Ivoire, like the rest of the world, is experiencing a decline in non-essential retail sales as a result of the global spread of Covid-19, the foundation for long-term growth in the sector is strong. This chapter contains an interview with Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Commerce and Industry; and Abdelmajid Touzani, Regional Director for West Africa, Bühler.