Embassy of India

ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE

Excellency Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, Vice President of Cote d'Ivoire,

Excellency Mr. Hamed BAKAYOKO, Minister of State, Minister of Defense,

Excellency Mr. Gaoussou TOURE, Minister of Rice Promotion,

Excellency Mr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Commerce and Industry,

Excellency Mme Niale KABA Minister of Planning and Development

Excellency Mr. Ally COULIBALY, Minister of African Integration and Ivorians Abroad,

Excellency Mme Madame Raymonde GOUDOU COFFIE, Minister of Modernization of Administration and Public Service Innovation,

Excellency Daouda DIABATE, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Hon’ble Parliamentarians,

Hon’ble Mayors of Cocody,  Assenie cities

Diplomatic Colleagues,

Dear Guests and friends of India,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Namaskar, Good Evening, Bonsoir, Akwaba, Salam-alaikum, Vanakum & Kemsu

 

My wife Shann joins me in extending a very warm welcome to each and every one of you to this India’s National Day Reception being hosted on the occasion of the 71st Republic Day of India. It is indeed a privilege to have you all here tonight to celebrate this very special day. My special thanks to HE Daniel Kablan Duncun for agreeing to be the Chief Guest of this event despite his heavy schedules.  Thank you, your excellency for being a strong foundation for India-Cote d'Ivoire bilateral relations and cooperation.

India after becoming independent in 1947, declared herself to be a Sovereign Democratic Republic on 26th January, 1950 with the adoption of the world’s longest written constitution. India is proud of its democratic traditions and its strong democratic institutions that has guarded India's exceptional diversities in religion, ethnicity, colours, custom, language and cuisines. Taking these diversities as its strength, India has never look back after its independence and has made enormous strides in achieving economic and social development for her citizens. Of course, challenges remain too, but it is on occasions such as today that we justifiably look back with pride at the journey that India have travelled so far.

Talking about India’s Achievements, there are amazing innovative transformations taking place in India especially in Higher education, Health care services, Information Technology and Communication, Artificial intelligence, and Space Exploration to harness space technologies for our development.

Without delving any deeper into India's achievements, let me now turn to the friendly relationship that India share with Cote d'Ivoire. Over the last few years, we have added greater economic content to our relationship. Bilateral trade has now crossed USD1 billion and has huge potential to expand. The size of Indian community and company is growing. The Indian community members have been playing the role of organic bridge between our two countries.  Indian Embassy has been playing a proactive role in promoting India in Cote d'Ivoire and Cote d'Ivoire in India.

Indian investments in Cote d'Ivoire is also growing and Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cote d'Ivoire (ICCI-CI) has come into being. This newly formed ICCI-CI is going to be officially launched by the Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Excellency Souleymane Diarrassouba on 13 February 2020. With the growing Indian investments, greater number of jobs/employments opportunities are created by Indian investment for Ivoirians. Indian business and investors continued to seek blessing and guidance of Cote d’Ivoire Leadership, so that these flourishing relations is not arrested by few vested interest people on either side.

 

To maintain this momentum of bilateral engagements, Embassy of India in Abidjan in collaboration with Ivoirian Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to organize India Day on 2-3 March 2020. The India Day would include Solo Exhibitions by India companies to showcase their products and services, besides the 3rd India-Cote d'Ivoire Business Meet 'India-Cote Business Connect'. There would be a special session on health care and service besides these B2B, B2G & B2C interactions are being arranged. All of you are most welcome to come and join us at the Cote d'Ivoire Chamber of Commerce premises.

The year 2019 was quite eventful for Embassy and we look forward to even more active year with the blessing and cooperation of local authorities to take our relation to a higher level.

In this context, I take this opportunity to convey the Government and People of India’s appreciation to the leadership of Cote d'Ivoire – H.E. President Alassane Ouattara, Vice President HE Mr Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Amoudou Gon Coulibally and his entire Ministers particularly Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Minister HE Marcel Amon Tanoh and Secretary Geneneral Amb Douba Diabate for their continued support as well as benevolence towards Indian community in Cote d'Ivoire.

 

Let me emphasize that India see Cote d'Ivoire as a close friend and an important partner for growth. I look forward to working with my Cote d'Ivoire friends and Indian community who have adopted this country as their second home to take our relationship to even greater heights. We are excited that our bilateral relations continue to widen & deepen with greater benefits to our people.

 

Thank you.