NEW-BRUNSWICK, THE CANADIAN PROVINCE INTENDS TO REINFORCE ITS COOPERATION WITH CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Visite de travail Thursday 14 December 2023

On a canvassing mission to Côte d’Ivoire from 02 to 05 October 2023, a delegation of the Canadian Province of New-Brunswick, led by its Minister of Francophonie and local Governments of New-Brunswick, Mr. Glen SAVOIE toured the Abidjan Port’s facilities on Wednesday 04 September 2023. The Canadian delegation, accompanied by His Excellency Mr. Bafetigué OUATTARA, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Canada was granted an audience by Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director of PAA and his close collaborators.

The visit, according to the representative of the Canadian government, was aimed at better getting acquainted with the assets, infrastructures and activities of Abidjan Port. It was therefore the opportunity for of the PAA’s Managing Director to make a general presentation of Abidjan Port through its history, traffics, infrastructure creation, its contribution to the national economy its exchanges with the countries worldwide, namely with Canada and also its development prospects.

Mr. Hien SIÉ, however in his address, wished for the reinforcement of trade exchange between Côte d’Ivoire and Canada: “Abidjan Port is willing to receive exports from Canada in order to develop business relationship between our two countries”.

Taking the floor, the Canadian Minister said that he was impressed by the rapid development of Abidjan Port in terms of upgrading infrastructure. He, in his turn, indicated that the Ports of New-Brunswick are the gate to have access, not only to Canada, but also to the States of Eastern United States of America. These Ports, he insisted, can handle vessels originating from Côte d’Ivoire in order to capture Canadian and American markets. According to him, a lot of business opportunities are available to Abidjan Port and to those of New-Brunswick. As for Mr. Thomas SOUCY, Honorary Consul of Côte d’Ivoire to Canada and owner of Westco, a poultry business and also a member of the Canadian delegation, he wished that information on Ivorian customs procedures for frozen meat imports, be made available to him in order to come up with a possible association with local investors, so as to develop activities in Côte d’Ivoire. His Excellency Mr. Bafetigué OUATTARA, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Canada recognized that this clear will by Canada to reinforce cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire is to be encouraged. Moreover, he pointed out the existing excellent relationships between the two countries, and wished that this new cooperation framework driven by Canada, further boosts trade between the two countries. Lastly, Glen SAVOIE the Canadian Ministry stated that his country and Côte d’Ivoire will continue to improve their cooperation and also to promote their exchanges in various areas such as diplomacy, trade, economy and education. The meeting ended with a touring by the Canadian delegation of the new facilities and some cold stores of Abidjan Port.