The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, met this Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at his office, with His Excellency Mr. Irchad Razaaly, the new Ambassador of the European Union to Côte d’Ivoire. This high-level meeting is part of the ongoing strategic dialogue between Côte d’Ivoire and the European Union, a long-standing partner and the country’s leading trading partner.
During this meeting, the two officials reviewed the current state of economic and trade cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and the European Union, while exploring prospects for strengthening it in the medium and long term. The discussion focused in particular on areas for improvement and the multi-sectoral opportunities available within the framework of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) between the two parties.
Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba reaffirmed the Ivorian government’s commitment to continuing and deepening this cooperation, making it even more beneficial for local businesses and SMEs, particularly through the promotion of local content, industrialization, and export diversification to the European market. He also welcomed the technical and financial support from the European Union, which significantly contributes to the development of the Ivorian private sector and the modernization of the business environment.
For his part, Mr. Irchad Razaaly commended the well-structured business ecosystem in Côte d’Ivoire, a result of reforms undertaken by the Ivorian authorities to improve competitiveness and attract more investment. He expressed the European Union’s readiness to continue joint efforts to increase economic and trade exchanges between the two partners, in a spirit of mutually beneficial and sustainable cooperation. The European Union Ambassador also reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Côte d’Ivoire in implementing its public policies for economic transformation, particularly in the areas of green transition, digital economy, inclusive trade, and the promotion of industrial competitiveness. This meeting thus marks an important step in consolidating the strategic partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and the European Union, based on shared values of prosperity, sustainability, and win-win cooperation.
In conclusion, both parties agreed to continue dialogue and coordination on joint projects aimed at boosting trade, supporting productive investment, and strengthening economic resilience in the face of current global challenges.
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