A COUNTRY PROFILE

Official name: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Flag: Orange (from the hoist), White and Green in equal and vertical bands
National Anthem: l’Abidjanaise
Motto: Union, Discipline, Work.

     Côte d’Ivoire became a French colony on March 10, 1893. From 1904 to 1958, the Colony of Côte d’Ivoire was part of the Federation of French Western Africa having its headquarters in Dakar (Senegal).

     Following the "Loi Cadre” of 1956 (Overseas Reform Act) which transferred a number of powers from Paris to elected territorial governments of colonies from the Federation of French Western Africa, the Colony of Côte d’Ivoire was proclaimed Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on December 4, 1958, but remain member of the French Community.

     The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire acquired its independence on August 7, 1960.

     Côte d’Ivoire has a land area of 322,462 square km with a population of about 19 millions inhabitants. It shares common borders with Mali and Burkina Faso in the North, Liberia and Guinea in the West, Ghana in the East and the Atlantic Ocean in the South.

     The country is divided into 19 Regions, 58 Prefectures (Departments) and 196 Townships. Abidjan, the economic capital has a population of about 5 millions inhabitants. Yamoussoukro, 280 kilometers away from Abidjan, the new political and administrative capital since 1982 is the site of modern infrastructures buildings. 

     French is the official language, in addition with 60 mother tongues out of the 60 Ethnic groups.

     Côte d’Ivoire has a multiparty political system with a presidential regime. The President, the 175 Members of the National Assembly and Mayors are elected for a five-year term.

     The major political parties are: The Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) former ruling party and the Republican Rally (RDR).

     Côte d’Ivoire has a tropical humid climate with an average temperature of 32ْ c all over the year. The natural vegetation is rain forest in part of the South, savannah in its Central and Northern parts.

     Côte d’Ivoire is Member of the following International Organizations

1. United Nations since September 20, 1960 and its Specialized Agencies

     African Institutions:

1. Founding Member of the defunct Organization of African Unity replaced by the African Union and its Specialized Institutions
2. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional economic integration organization
3. The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) whose Members share the C.F.A Francs, the common currency, issued and controlled by the Central Bank of West African States (B.C.E.A.O.)

     Côte d’Ivoire has a good and reliable infrastructure (road network, communications via satellite, two modern ports equipped with operations facilities) and offers an economic and social environment favorable to investments and commercial activities:

      The Economy of Côte d’Ivoire relies on agriculture, agro- allied industries and import substitution manufacturing.
Main productions: cocoa (leading world producer, 40% of the international market), coffee, timber, gold, diamond, manganese, iron ore, offshore oil and natural gas deposits.  
The Ivorian economy is performing significantly.

Côte d’Ivoire accounts for 41% of the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the UEMOA.
Real GDP: 2% in 2005.
GDP per capita: USD$ 907 (2004)
Major trading partners: the European Union, the United States of America and ECOWAS Member States.
Main imports: consumer goods, industrial goods and machinery. 

  Major tourism destinations are: Grand Bassam, the first capital with its colonial buildings and the clothing museum, Assinie, Assouindé I and Assouindé II, locations for seaside tourism, National parks (Taï National Park classified UNESCO world heritage), the Basilica Notre Dame de la Paix in Yamoussoukro the capital city, San Pedro the second seaport with its beautiful beaches, la Baie des Sirènes at Grand-Béreby,  the Museum of civilization in Abidjan, the traditional weavers and the famous hand painted Korhogo fabrics, masks carving and handicraft, etc. Several hotels of international standing and golf courses are also available.

     Businessmen are invited to invest in Côte d’Ivoire which has many business opportunities, natural resources, adequate economic infrastructures and very attractive incentives on investments.