Monday, May 12, 2014

Business Opportunities in Ivory Coast

   


when asked the question  should we still invest in africa? jean-louis castelnau deputy chairman of the french counsil of foreign investors in africa replied " of course! we are not charities if we do not find our account in africa we would not still be there, moreover large groups are always present in the continent" ,some people think investment in Africa is a waste of money or it is too risky stuff like that well if you are one of those persons sorry to disappoint you but there is some opportunities in the continent.

With a population of more than 22 millions of inhabitants  , Ivory Coast  has a gross national income per capita of more than 1,700 dollars per year  ,first economy  in the west African economic union  in which she has more than 40%  of GDP the country has set the goal of joining the ranks of emerging countries in 2020 .in order to reach that objective  the government is undertaking some new reforms  for  example it is now possible to create  an enterprise in 48 hours because all offices involved in the creation process have been merged together  in the  same building.

after a decade of crisis  ended by  a  3 months electoral dispute in 2010 , the country  is now  turning the page and working  toward its 2020 goal of joining  the rank of developing countries.Ivory Coast before the crisis  was well known to be one of Africa most  peaceful countries , a record now held by a neighboring country  Ghana .

so i was saying there ar some good business opportunities  in the Ivory Coast , ok here is a list of sector and example of investment possible 
infrastructures, building and civil engineering works sector
Building rehabilitation, constructions of railroads, the Abidjan urban train  etc…
.mines,  energies ,hydrocarbons
Development  of  Solar power ,  expand the supply of electricity etc…
. tourism  
Constructions of 5 stars ,3 stars  hotels
.education, employment  and health                                                                       
Constructions of  : student hall , hospital, modern libraries ,universities ,equipment and  exploitation of the national center of radiology.
.industry , agriculture , animal etc..

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Abidjan the economic city of the Ivory Coast (Cote D'ivoire)




Abidjan is the largest city in Cote D 'ivoire  and the third largest French speaking city behind Paris  (France) and Kinshasa (Congo) , with more than 6 millions of inhabitant  it is located on the south-east coast of the  country and is composed of 10 communes , Abidjan is also a headquarters of major international  institution  such as UNICEF , UN, WHO, IMF and so on ….  Here is a brief description of some of the main areas in Abidjan .

Plateau
Also called small Manhattan plateau is the center town , with its skyscrapers it is the business center of Abidjan all government offices are located in plateau along with the presidential palace ,it is also home for  banks ,enterprises ,embassy and also some  nice 5 stars  hotels  like NOVOTEL , SOFITEL, TIAMA and nice restaurant , even though Plateau is the center town people do live there it has some nice apartment ,but  as i said it is a working center so you probably won’t find much people there at night.

Cocody
Famous for it’s  residential area , cocody is one of the most beautiful place to live in Abidjan ,this is where the president lives ,his neighbour is the French ambassador   “for real “   ,their  residence  is not far from one of the most beautiful  hotel in Cote d’ivoire  hotel ivoire ,Cocody is also home for the national TV  station ,you will find most embassy  also  there .

Riviera  (area of cocody)
This area is one of  the most  if not  the most  beautiful residential area  in Abidjan especially Riviera 3, it has some nice hotel  like golf hotel ,some people say ,houses  in Riviera 3 resemble  old Greek temple.

Port-bouet
This is the area of the airport and also the seaport ,this area is pretty average despite beautiful infrastructures it is also home for the most biggest French military base in the country ,i always wonder why the mayor of the area doesn’t stay there and wait there is more she has been mayor for the past  25 years  “for real “ .

Marcory
Marcory is a popular and  beautiful area , if you like shopping you will love this place  famous for it’s beautiful malls like CAP SUD  and ORCA ,night club ,spot  etc  ,it’s one of  best place to party in Abidjan.
And there is Zone 4 , you enter this place and you are like is it the same country Zone 4 is located  in marcory but kind of separated because located on the over side of the main road  and most people living there are expat white and lebanese .

Yopougon
crowded place ,The most biggest area and second most populated  in Abidjan , number 1 in term of party with many night club ,spot and especially  its famous ‘ Rue Princesse ‘ a street full of bar, night club very animated at night , If you like to party in club well it is certainly a place  for you to visit .

there is also ,Koumassi, Abobo,Adjame Treichville etc



                            

Monday, April 21, 2014

Presentation of the Ivory Coast (Cote D'ivoire)






The Cote D’ivoire is a west African country neighboring  Ghana on the eastern part ,mali and Burkina faso on the northern part ,Liberia and guinea on the western part and bordered by the  gulf of guinea (the north of  Atlantic ocean) on the southern part. For those who know nothing about geography , this is the Country of the international football player and  former  Chelsea and Marseille striker Didier Drogba And Yaya   Toure  the  Manchester city midfielder , for the  fans of reggae music this is the country Of  Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah fakoly ,and also the country of the music band Magic System and the list go on and on.
Ivory Coast  is an old French colony , and the second largest economy in west Africa after  Nigeria (Africa first economy)  what  set  the  Cote D’ivoire apart is it’s modernity  compare to others  old French colonies and other west African countries ,it has two capital, Yamoussoukro  the political capital with its  master  peace the cathedral  our  lady of peace a replica of the rome’s  St  Therese build by the first president Felix Houpouet Boigny (He Didn't like the name  Ivory Coast by the way,he preferred the name Cote D'ivoire to be used no matter the language ) ,
and Abidjan the economical city with its beautiful area especially the plateau an area nicknamed small Manhattan because build on the model of  the American city  Manhattan.  Abidjan is the largest city in Cote Divoire  and the third largest French speaking city behind Paris  (France) and Kinshasa (congo)  .

the  Cote D’ivoire has more than 22 millions of inhabitant  with an area of  322 460   km2   , country code  +225 ,It is the world first cocoa producer  and  seventh   coffee  producer  (formerly 5 th) ,the main spoken language is French but there is  also  more 60 local languages, some university student study foreign languages like ,English ,Spanish German ,Chinese  etc ... ,the northern and western part are home for some  fascinating  and vital  traditional culture and tourist destination  with mountains ,mask , the monkey village etc… whereas  the southern part  is the archetype of prosperity and modernization , the number of foreign national  vary between   25% to 50%  ,with more than 15000  french national and  more than  60 000  libanese.
  ost great corporation are present in Ivory Coast for business purpose  mostly from france ,like I said the country was colonized by france, we have  Total and ELF ( more than 25 % of ivory coast oil refinery), france telecom (more  51%  of  the telecommunication industry ), coca cola , Toyota,Mercedes etc
The mobile phone industry is very dynamic with a penetration of about  80%,  with 5 mobile phone companies, Ivory coast is also using a 3G Internet connection since January 2012.