Economy

Despite global supply chain challenges, the value of trade between China and Africa rose to record levels in 2021. The increase partially reflected a shift in China’s policy away from government-backed investment towards enhanced trade and cooperation. According to the Chinese Customs Agency, the value of the country’s trade with Africa rose by 35% to $254bn that year, driven...

Financial technology (fintech) firms are gaining market share that was formerly the preserve of established remittance service providers. Remittances have grown in importance in recent years and today constitute the largest source of foreign income for many developing economies. They also tend to be countercyclical, increasing during economic downturns or natural disasters...

Thanks in large part to renewed political stability, Côte d’Ivoire’s sustained high growth in the last decade ranks it among the best-performing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2012 and 2019 real GDP growth averaged around 8.5%, compared to less than 0.5% over the 2000-11 period.

Côte d’Ivoire is exploring new friendships, in addition to its traditionally close alignment with France and the West. While the years of conflict chipped away at the country’s regional influence and international diplomatic ties, today Côte d’Ivoire is a crucial member of the regional security infrastructure, notably in opposing the threat of extremism in the Sahel.