ITALIAN COMPANIES IN AFRICA, THE IVORIAN RIB OF CISAO IS BORN – Represent a reference point within the Italian entrepreneurial ecosystem that already operates in Ivory Coast and, at the same time, build synergies and facilitate dialogue with the Italian Embassy and local institutions.
To encourage trade and new potential investments from Italy, thus contributing to the growth and development, also through social initiatives, of one of the most important countries of West Africa.
These are the objectives shared by over thirty Italian entrepreneurs and managers who in recent days, in Abidjan, in the presence of ambassador Arturo Luzzi, have decided to formally found the Ivorian delegation of Cisao, the Italian-Senegalese and West African Chamber of Commerce. The first step for the structuring of a chamber in the economic capital of the Ivory Coast.
The working group will be coordinated by Sergio Tommasini, advisor of Confindustria Assafrica and managing director of Airone Seafood, a company that has been operating in the Ivory Coast in the field of canned tuna fish since 1994.
The Italian community in the Ivory Coast has always distinguished itself for great projects, industrial innovation, and entrepreneurial skills. From the wood sector to agro-industry, from the fishing sector to the construction sector, and more recently to the energy sector.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Italians made a valuable contribution to the growth of this country located in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The Republic of the Ivory Coast has enormous potential and the current president Alassane Ouattara, who recently visited Italy, had the great merit to put it back on the road after some complicated years – declares Sergio Tommasini -. Today, the country needs a new reforming impulse that will lead to productivity growth and an improvement in the business climate. Without inclusive growth, it will not be possible to overcome the social imbalance that still persists in the country. The middle class, the real engine of an emerging economy, is growing but not at a satisfactory pace. If we think that 40% of the economic value of the entire West African Community (UEMOA) circulates from the Port of Abidjan, we are talking about a great wealth that should be channeled into inclusive policies: redistribution of wealth, education, health, and training”.
Ivory Coast is the world’s largest producer of cocoa, cashews, palm oil, and the third largest coffee producer. In Abidjan, the economic capital, there is the main tuna port of West Africa.
It is an area rich in minerals that together with Eni has started the construction of a large industrial site for the extraction of gas and oil that will be operational in 2023.
Despite being a developing country, there are still migratory flows from 12 to 15 thousand people a year. Problems that must be managed at the root.
The European instruments of the Migration Compact and other social reintegration programs have shown some effectiveness.
“With the Ivorian delegation of Cisao we intend to make our concrete contribution to a balanced, sustainable, and inclusive economic development of the Ivory Coast – Tommasini resumes-. There are ninety Italian companies operating in the country, among them, in addition to Eni, we can mention giants like Leonardo and MSC.
We want to be a point of contact for those who want to invest here and in fact we represent a network of entrepreneurs and professionals who have concrete experience to transfer to those who want to explore this country – emphasizes the manager -. The experience to avoid making mistakes and wasting resources, to trace a virtuous path without stumbling upon the Ivorian bureaucracy. The experience of those who can prove to know how to do business in Africa”.
ITALIAN COMPANIES IN AFRICA, THE IVORIAN RIB OF CISAO IS BORN
