UAE and Côte d’Ivoire to boost bilateral economic cooperation

Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in coordination with the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), a high-level economic delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by Humaid Mohamed Ben Salem, Secretary-General of the FCCI, conducted a visit to the capital of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan.

During the visit, he and the accompanying delegation held meetings with several senior officials, including ministers at the government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the UAE and Côte d’Ivoire, with particular emphasis on advancing economic and trade cooperation. The two sides explored investment opportunities across a range of sectors including tourism, renewable energy, and banking and financial services.

The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint business council between the UAE and Côte d’Ivoire. The MoU was signed by Humaid Mohamed ben Salem, Secretary-General of the FCCI, and Faman Touré, President of the Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The UAE economic delegation included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali Yousef Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, as well as representatives from the FCCI, EDGE Group, Presight, AMEA Power, Infinity Power, Arabian Falcon, Space42, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Adnoc.

Meanwhile in February the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) received a high-level diplomatic delegation from Côte d’Ivoire to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations.

The discussions focused on exploring areas of joint action, facilitating reciprocal visits by businessmen and trade delegations from both sides, and promoting high-potential sectors to private enterprises. The meeting also emphasised creating a more integrated framework for investment opportunities and business partnerships between the two countries.

The meeting took place at SCCI’s headquarters, where Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, welcomed Vacaba Diaby, Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the UAE.

During the meeting, both sides outlined the outcomes of the Sharjah-Côte d’Ivoire Business Forum recently hosted by the Sharjah Chamber.

The discussions also highlighted the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sharjah Chamber and the Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce in strengthening trade relations and boosting investments between the business communities of both countries.

The MoU also emphasises coordinated efforts in participating in trade shows, conferences, and forums hosted by both countries to maximise investment promotion prospects.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais noted that the meeting provides a valuable opportunity for both sides to develop strategic action plans and explore future opportunities to strengthen ties of cooperation and collaboration between Sharjah and Côte d’Ivoire.

Recognised as a key economic player in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire boasts a strategic geographic location, a thriving investment environment, well-developed infrastructure, and sustained economic growth.

Al Owais highlighted the investment opportunities and competitive advantages that Sharjah offers, positioning it as an attractive destination for investors and foreign capital. With its business-friendly ecosystem and investor-centric policies, the emirate offers an optimal environment for fostering sustainable economic growth and seamless business operations.

For their part, the Côte d’Ivoire delegation praised the robust ties between the two nations, emphasising their commitment to strengthening economic relations and enhancing trade exchange with Sharjah.

They also extended their gratitude to the Sharjah Chamber for its proactive role in facilitating business partnerships and its commitment to fostering closer collaboration with entrepreneurs and business leaders in Côte d’Ivoire.

Earlier the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in collaboration with the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, organised a visit for a high-level UAE economic delegation to Port Louis, the capital of the Republic of Mauritius.

The delegation was led by Humaid Mohamed Ben Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation. During the visit, he met with Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, and several ministers.

The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations between the UAE and Mauritius, with particular emphasis on strengthening economic and trade cooperation and exploring investment opportunities in key sectors such as artificial intelligence, aviation, agriculture, exports, energy, and infrastructure.

The economic delegation included representatives from MoFA, the Ministry of Economy, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Etihad Airways.