OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC TO THE VATICAN : THE ABIDJAN PORT AUTHORITY TOOK PART IN THE ITALY-CÔTE D’IVOIRE GATHERING

Visite de travail Thursday 23 March 2023

His Excellency Mr Alassane OUATTARA was in Italy in September 15, 2022 as part of an official visit to the Vatican. He was accompanied by His Excellency, Mr Patrick ACHI and other members of the Government. This important mission fits in with the vision of the Head of State to make the Ivorian diplomacy an instrument at the service of the economic ambitions of Côte d’Ivoire. This new strategy of economic diplomacy should enable the country to turn into a leading Trading Power of the continent and therefore, ensure its attractiveness for foreign direct investment (FDI).

Abidjan Port Authority, catalyst of the Ivorian economy took part in this important official mission with a delegation led by Mr Hien Yacouba SIE, Managing Director. The program of the mission provided for a professional meeting organized in the morning of 16 September 2022 by the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Italy, in partnership with the General Confederation of Italian Industrialists (CONFINDUSTRIA) with the aim of presenting investment opportunities offered by the Ivorian market.

During the meeting, Mr Hien Yacouba SIE made a presentation to the Italian economic operators on the evolution of Abidjan Port through the major infrastructure development projects implemented since 2012 and also through the building of value chain to facilitate export procedures. A panel was organized and co-hosted between Abidjan Port Authority, San Pedro Port Authority and I MESSINA, a Shipping Group: As a result of the panel, two draft memorandums of understanding were signed. The first one with I MESSINA Group on the improvement of the Ivoirian shipping services through the opening of special shipping lines.

The second memorandum with ANCE Group, the National Association of Italian builders to build modern infrastructure meant for increasing export capacity of Ivorian products.

It should be noted that this high level event took place in the presence of His Excellency Mr Alassane OUATTARA who delivered the closing keynote address.