India-Cote d'Ivoire Relations
Embassy of India
Abidjan
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India-Cote d’Ivoire bilateral brief
Political:
1. India and Côte d'Ivoire have traditionally enjoyed cordial and friendly relations. India established its Embassy in Abidjan in 1979 and Cote d'Ivoire opened its Resident Mission in New Delhi in September 2004.
2. India and Cote d’Ivoire share convergence of values and aspirations. Cote d’Ivoire, since 2011, has declared India as the focus country for cooperation in the fields of ICT, Agriculture, Mining and Infrastructure and has emphasized on the importance of strengthening relations with India. India, too has given renewed thrust to bilateral relations with Cote d’Ivoire in the recent years.
3. The Ivorian Government is cognizant of our role in the UNSC during 2011-12 in support of restoration of democracy and is appreciative of role played by our military advisers in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI). Cote d’Ivoire has been supportive of India in the UN and other international bodies, particularly in the elections. Cote d’Ivoire during its non-permanent membership at the UNSC from 2018- 19 took a clear stand and supported India, including that of abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution and J&K. Cote d’Ivoire is a member of International Solar Alliance and has also ratified the amended framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance in 2020.
4. The first Foreign Office Consultations between India and Cote d’Ivoire was held from 29-30 March 2021 in Abidjan. Secretary (ER) Rahul Chhabra led the Indian delegation while Amb Daouda Diabate Secretary General (MOFA) led the Ivoirian delegation.
Visits:
5. The close and friendly relations between India and Cote d’Ivoire are demonstrated by regular exchanges of visits at the highest level. Honorable Rashtrapathi ji (HR) visited Cote d’Ivoire in June 2016. This was the first Head of the State visit from India to Cote d’Ivoire. During the visit Rashtrapathi ji extended an invitation to President of Cote d’Ivoire to visit India. President Alassane Ouattara is keen to pay a stand-alone State Visit to India. Ministerial visits are as follows:
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2022 |
The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Bhupender Yadav visited Cote d’Ivoire to attend COP15 – 8-11 August 2022. |
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2019 |
MoS External Affairs Sh. V. Muraleedharan paid a bilateral visit to Cote d’Ivoire on 06 September 2019. |
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2018
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Cote d’Ivoire Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy, HE Excellency Thierry Tanoh Visited India in October 2018 to attend ISA Annual Meeting in Delhi
Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire H.E Daniel Kablan Duncan visited India from 10-11 March to participate at the ISA Founding Conference.
MoS External Affairs Sh. M.J. Akbar paid a bilateral visit to Cote d’Ivoire from February 28 -March 1, 2018. |
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2017 |
Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan visited India from 22-25 May 2017 to participate at the 54th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) held in Ahmadabad. |
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2016
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Honorable Rashtrapathi ji Shri. Pranab Mukherjee visited Cote d’Ivoire in June 2016. This was the first bilateral visit at the level of Head of the State from India.
Visit of Minister for Digital Economy and Post Mr. Bruno Nabagné Koné in October 2016 to participate in the World Economic Forum meeting.
The First Joint Commission Meeting held in October 2016 in New Delhi. The Ivorian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Mr. Albert Abdullah Mbari. |
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2015 |
Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Ram Kripal Yadav visited Abidjan from 13-16 July 2015 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to personally handover the invitation for the third India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.
Minister for Mines and Industry Mr. Brou Kassi Jean Claude visited New Delhi to participate in the IAFS-III in October 2015. |
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2014 |
MOS External Affairs Mrs. Preneet Kaur visited Abidjan from 22-24 January 2014.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan accompanied by Ministers of Trade and Mines & Industry visited India from 3-7 November 2014 to participate in India Economic Summit in New Delhi. |
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2013 |
Prime Minister Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan visited India from 17-19 March 2013 and addressed the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave. |
Trade and Commerce:
6. Total bilateral trade figures data during the last three years are as follows
|
Year |
Exports |
Imports |
Total ( in US$ Million) |
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2018-19 |
448.64 |
603.05 |
1051.69 |
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2019-20 |
414.67 |
454.88 |
869.55 |
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2020-21 |
585.96 |
317.51 |
903.47 |
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2021-22 |
728.62 |
468.78 |
1,197.40 |
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2022-23 Apr-Spt |
400.27 |
488.90 |
889.17 |
(Data Source: MOC, GOI)
7. India imports cashew, manganese ore, cotton, wood, scrap metals, rubber, etc. CI is the largest producer & exporter of Cocoa and raw cashew in the world and India imports big chunk of Ivoirian cashew. The main items of India's export are rice, pharmaceutical products (albeit not directly), Automobiles, machinery, chemicals, plastics and rubber.
Indian Investment in Cote d’Ivoire:
8. A large number of Indian enterprises have established its presence in CI in recent years. As per the estimates of the CEPICI (Cote d’Ivoire Investment Promotion Agency), total investment from India to Cote d’Ivoire from 2013-2019 is CFA 16.829 billion (US $ 28 Million app.). Besides the private companies’ investments G2G exposure of GOI for development projects in Cote d’Ivoire stood at US$385.15m which is US $ 247.7 m as LOC projects and US$ 137.45 as Buyer’s credit, Under National Export Insurance Scheme.
9. Embassy of India in Abidjan successfully brought together prominent Indian business personnel and established an Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Cote d’Ivoire (ICCI-CI) which was officially launched in February 2020 by the Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Souleymane Diarrasouba.
10. As part of the continued efforts to promote India’s exports, the Embassy has been organizing a series of trade promotions events in collaboration with Cote d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Cote d’Ivoire. These includes two day “India Day Events” in Abidjan on 2-3 March 2020. The two days events included the 3rd India-Cote d’Ivoire Business Forum, inaugurated and addressed by Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Souleymane Diarrasouba, First India-Cote d’Ivoire HealthCare Seminar inaugurated and addressed by the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene HE Dr Eugène Aka-Aouélé, two days India Solo exhibitions by 30 Indian companies showcasing their products and services to the Cote d’Ivoire business and public in general.
Projects Exports:
11. Bilateral ties have been strengthened by the expanding South-South Cooperation between the two countries. India gifted 50,000 doses of Made in India Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) to the people & Government of Cote d'Ivoire recently on 05 March 2021. India had extended a grant of US$ 790,000/- for establishment of the Centre for Demonstration and Promotion of Technologies (CDT) in Abidjan in 2007-10. A Rural Technology Park is also being proposed to be built under India’s grant assistance under IAFS.
12. Completed LOC projects include (a) Renewal of urban transport system in Abidjan and for agricultural projects in the field of vegetable oil extraction, fruits and vegetable chips production, production of cocoa, coffee-LOC US $ 26.80 million (b) Mahatma Gandhi IT and Biotechnology Park (LOC US$ 20 million). (c) Transmission line between Cote d'Ivoire and Mali [LOC US $ 54 (US $ 30 million + US$ 24 million)]. On-going LoC projects include: (i) Fisheries Processing Plant (LOC US$ 4 million); (ii) Coconut fiber processing plant (LOC US$ 1.5 million) (iii) 30 Rice Production programme (LOC US $ 30 million) (iv) Upgradation/construction of four military hospitals (LOC US $ 71.4 million).
Capacity Building and Human Resource Development:
13. India has been providing 100 training slots to Cote d’Ivoire under ITEC Programme annually. ICCR also extended 10 paid scholarships to Ivorian to pursue undergraduate and post graduate studies in India. GOI has offered the service of the upgraded programme of Pan African e-Network Project known as e-VidhyaBharati & e-Aarogya Bharati (e-VBAB) and have signed an MOU for cooperation in this regard.
Culture:
14. Indian tele-serials and movies, dubbed in French, have been immensely popular in CI since many years. Senior Ivoirian citizens recall watching movies such as ‘Albela’ and ‘Mangala’ in Abidjan movie theatres in the early days. Yoga is also popular among Ivoirians. Under Festival of India in Cote d’Ivoire, the Embassy of India organized several cultural performances in Abidjan and other cities in 2017-18. Embassy of India organized the Indian Film Festival in December 2019 as well as 2020 where popular Bollywood movies with French subtitles were screened.
15. Mission has been also regularly organizing the International Yoga Day since its inception. The Yoga is becoming more and more popular in Abidjan. In IDY-2022 on 19 June the Ivorian Sports Minister attended as the Chief Guest. The event was led by five local Yoga Gurus and more than 500 yoga lovers precipitated enthusiastically. The event was also live streamed on social media handles of the Mission highlighting the benefits of practicing Yoga in boosting self-immunity in the current situation of pandemic.
Indian Community:
16. There are estimated over 1500 Indian nationals residing in Cote d’Ivoire. Most of them are engaged in trading and general merchandise business while few of them are engaged in mining and manufacturing. ISKCON, Geeta Ashram and Art of Living have their setup in Abidjan. Indian community also patronizes a temple in Abidjan. There are also many Indians working with African Development Bank. There are few Indian restaurants in Abidjan. Community members regularly organize get togethers to celebrate major Indian festivals.
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(Last updated: November 2022)
Useful Resources:
1. https://www.eoiabidjan.gov.in/page/india-cote-d-ivoire-relations/
2. https://www.eoiabidjan.gov.in/news_letter_detail/?id=42
3. https://twitter.com/EOIIvoryCoast
4. https://www.facebook.com/EOICOTEDIVOIRE/
5. https://www.facebook.com/EOICOTEDIVOIRE/videos/856431848055861/