Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides)- Not just coffee and cacao but petroleum and tourism too. Cote d'Ivoire intends to diversify its economy still mainly based on coffee production and export (Africa's 4th largest producer) and cacao, main world producer 1.2 million tons in 2006. Since the country was divided in the civil war in 2002, much of its cacao production escapes government control.
With the peace agreement signed in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (see Fides 5 March 2007) the authorities should regain control of the territory in the hands of the rebels and therefore also taxes on the activities there. Civil war and the division of the territory damaged the economy of the country which intends now to develop other sectors such as petroleum. It was thanks to oil, according to the West African Countries Central Bank BCEAO, that Cote d'Ivoire survived the serious economic crisis in the years prior to 2005, when the country registered a negative growth rate (average -0,4% in the period 2000-2005). In 2006 the GNP rate was 1.8%, and in 2007 is expected to rise to 2%.
The report says that thanks to a 71% increase in oil production in 2006, the petroleum sector is now the engine of the economy. Cote d'Ivoire produces an average of 80,000 barrels a day. However its expansion encounters structural limits due to geology.
Besides petroleum, the Cote d'Ivoire intends to boost tourism. At a recent meeting in Abidjan, experts in marketing and advertising discussed how to improve the country's international image damaged by political instability, and to attract foreign investors and tourists. A task not too difficult considering that Cote d'Ivoire has 4,000 km of asphalt roads, one of the best telephone networks in Africa, an electricity service which can guarantee uninterrupted power and high level hotel and healthcare infrastructures. The experts said however that the government must equip itself with tools for communications and promotion of tourism. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2007 righe 35 parole 435)
