Embassy of India

ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE

Bonjour, Good morning, Namaskar, As-salamu-alaykum, Vanak-kum, Akwaba,

Hon’ble Vice-President Daniel Kablan Duncan 

Minister of Digital Economy & Post HE Isaac De

My dear colleague friend Ambassador Sainy Temele, Chairman VITIB/ DG Pango, Madam Veena Varma GM EXIM Bank of India, Distinguished Captains of Industry and entrepreneurs from India and Cote d’Ivoire and dear friends from media.

 Ladies & Gentlemen: It is a matter of great pleasure for me to welcome and greet you all on behalf of the government and people of India, at this happy occasion of inaugurating the India-Cote d’Ivoire bilateral project, Mahatma Gandhi IT & Biotech Park, (MGIT-BP) Grand-Bassam.

At the outset, I would like to begin by thanking His Excellency the Vice President Monsieur Daniel Kablan Duncan, for his August presence as the Chief Guest. I also thank President Alassane Ouattara for his leadership and vision for development & partnership with India. India and Cote d'Ivoire have cordial relations & are poised for deeper friendship and partnership.

The MGIT-BP is being built with India’s assistance through EXIM Bank Lines of Credit and consists of two parts firstly, architectural concept & design for the buildings of Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and construction of main building to host IT enterprises. Secondly, supply and commissioning of equipment which included, Computer Assembly Plant, VSAT with Satellite Earth Station, Networking Lab, Human DNA Lab, Data Storage Area Network, an Audio-Visual Lab & a Power Generator.

There has been a significant intensification of our engagement with Cote d’Ivoire over the years and has extended six Lines of Credit aggregating to USD 207.70 million, aimed at building Infrastructure, improving the Ivorian skills and create opportunities. A contract of USD 40.00 million is also included under Government of India’s Supported Lines of Credit to ECOWAS Bank for Development in Cote d’Ivoire. Exim Bank of India has also extended two Buyer’s Credit facilities under National Export Insurance Account, aggregating to USD 137.45 million to the Government of Cote d’Ivoire for transport sectors. Thus as on date, total exposure to Government of Cote d’Ivoire stands at USD 385.15 million.

To maintain the momentum in our bilateral engagements, Embassy of India in Abidjan in collaboration Exim Bank of India, is also organizing "India-Co?te d'Ivoire Business Forum" on the sidelines of inaugural ceremony. All of you present here are most welcome to join us. There are senior executives from prominent Indian companies looking for investment opportunities and potential Ivorian partners.

I am extremely happy to note that India and Cote d’Ivoire governments have the political will and desire to take our relations to highest possible level by working together especially in priority areas. The theme of our cooperation is shared prosperity which is geared towards addressing priority areas of partners. Both governments would like to encourage private sectors to take advantage of plethora of opportunities for cooperation that exist between our two countries. I have said it on numerous occasions and I reiterate that Embassy of India in Abidjan is your friend and would do all that is possible to promote India-Cote d’Ivoire partnership. Please feel free to drop in and exchange info&idea as to how to enhance our partnership. India-Cote d’Ivoire cooperation offers unbound opportunities which are yet to be fully tapped.

The MGIT-BP symbolizes the growing and shining example of cooperation between India and Cote d’Ivoire, energized by high level of political commitment from both the countries. The MGIT-BP is expected to bring direct benefit to the lives of the people in Cote d’Ivoire. The project is expected to further consolidate our cooperation & bilateral relations especially in context of transfer of technology and sharing of development experience to build capacities and centres of opportunities in our partner countries in Africa, to face the challenges of knowledge economy in 21st century.

 The Embassy of India in Abidjan looks forward to working with all Ivorian interlocutors for win-win cooperation. Thank you for your patient hearing.

Thank You Merci Beaucoup.