Horizon Ivory Coast

Côte d'Ivoire is experiencing solid growth, driven by sustained investment in infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and a growing entrepreneurial dynamic. A network of competitive local businesses is emerging, particularly in agribusiness, energy, and services. Agricultural transformation projects are multiplying to capture more added value, while the country is confirming its role as an energy hub, and financial and digital services are supporting this development.

More and more SMEs are going international, and large groups are seeking alliances, a sign of the attractiveness of the Ivorian ecosystem. For entrepreneurs, this is a key moment: understanding these dynamics and choosing the right entry points opens the way to real opportunities that we support and finance on a daily basis.
Arnaud Floris – Regional Manager for Africa – Bpifrance

KEY FIGURES

• Population : 32,9 million inhabitants
• GPD : 87 billion (in USD)
• 75ème world economic power
• Currency : CFA Franc (XOF)
• Exchange rate regime : fixed

COUNTRY RISKS

• Dependence on primary products: The heavy dependence on cocoa (40% of exports) exposes the economy to the volatility of global prices and climatic hazards, weakening public revenues and the current account balance.
• Socio-political vulnerability: The socio-political situation has calmed down since the end of 2020, but a resurgence of tensions cannot be ruled out with the prospect of the new presidential election on October 25, 2025.
• Climate vulnerability: Highly exposed to climate change, but with low CO2 emissions, the country is committed to programs promoting the development of renewable energies and sustainable agriculture.
• Business climate: The government favors the private sector, but Côte d'Ivoire generally ranks lower than its neighbors in terms of governance according to World Bank indicators. The country was added to the FATF gray list in 2024 due to insufficient anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism measures.

AREA OPPORTUNITIES

• Stabilization of growth: The dynamism of the Ivory Coast economy is expected to continue in 2024-2025 (expected growth of +6,5% per year). Moderating inflation should boost household consumption.
• External stability: Ivorian exports should benefit from the high level of cocoa prices (more than 35% of exports) and an increase in volumes in 2025.
• Banking sector: The banking system comprises around thirty institutions. It appears generally healthy, with satisfactory capitalization, despite the weakness of certain public banks, which do not, however, present any systemic risk.
• Stability of public accounts: Public spending is expected to remain high in 2024-25 but will be offset by a gradual increase in revenue, thanks to dynamic growth and tax measures, enabling the public deficit to be reduced to -3% in 2025.

To discover the full content, check out our edition Horizon Ivory Coast.