Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mrs Toure Maman, while addressing participants on the occasion of the country’s 59th Anniversary of the Independence of Cote d’Ivoire in Abuja on Wednesday, called for deeper economic cooperation with Nigeria to strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
She said that the country had maintained the growth of its Domestic Gross Product despite political crisis recorded in 2011 for the seventh year consecutively.
According to her, the growth exceeded 7 per cent and should reach 7. 2 per cent this year, because of reforms carried out by the Ivorian Government to improve the business climate.
READ ALSO: Nigeria ranks second in global open defecation
Maman said, “The private sector has become the main driver of growth, notably through massive investments in the telecommunications, agro-food and Public Works Building sectors.
“This is an opportunity for companies and business people based in Nigeria and other parts of the world to do business in Cote d’Ivoire with the security index at 1.1.
“The economic upturn will not have been possible without cooperation with Nigeria; Indeed, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria maintain excellent ties of friendship and cooperation, since the diplomatic relations in 1961.
“Our bilateral relation has deepened in recent years by the will of President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.”
The envoy put the total volume of trade between both countries at $600 billion.
She revealed that the country would organise its first international forum titled “Made in Cote d’Ivoire” in Eko Hotel, Lagos from December 1 to December 8, 2019.
In a message of goodwill, Mr Mustapha Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the relationship between both countries had been cordial.
According to him, both countries have crossed over from being just friends to becoming brothers.
“We look forward to strengthening Cote d’Ivoire/Nigeria relations, by supporting one another in brotherhood, to enable our citizens to enjoy doing business in both countries,” Sulaiman said.
The event which attracted stakeholders from the Diplomatic community in Abuja featured traditional dances and video documentary about history of Cote d’Ivoire independence.
Yetunde Adegoke
