European business mission to Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso
From April 7th – 13th 2013, NABA members are welcome to join a Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC) trade mission to Ivory Coast (7th – 10th April) and Burkina Faso (10th – 13th). This mission has a multi-sectoral focus which will explore potential business opportunities in both countries.Ivory CoastIvory Coast counts over 20 million inhabitants and is known as the world largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans. It is also a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. After years of political instability, Ivory Coast is still recovering from the civil war. In the last presidential elections in 2010, President OUATTARA was declared winner by the election commission and took the oath of office on December 4th. Prime Minister SORO resigned from the incumbent administration and was subsequently appointed to the same position by OUATTARA, while the former president GBAGBO refused to cede. This action resulted in a 5-month stand-off until he was finally forced to stand down in April 2011. The newly appointed President is, more than ever, willing to develop the private sector during his five year term. Ivory Coast has a GDP per capita of 1700 (in USD), with an economic growth of 8,2% in 2012 compared to 2,4% in 2010. The business opportunities are in the following sectors: fertilizers, foodstuffs, oil & gas, port infrastructure, ship, transport and logistics.