Ivory Coast
India and Côte d'Ivoire have traditionally enjoyed cordial and friendly relations. India established its Embassy in Abidjan in 1979 and Cote d'Ivoire opened its Resident Mission in New Delhi in September 2004. India and Cote d’Ivoire share convergence of values and aspirations. Cote d’Ivoire, since 2011, has declared India as the focus country for cooperation in the fields of ICT, Agriculture, Mining and Infrastructure and has emphasized on the importance of strengthening relations with India. India, too has given renewed thrust to bilateral relations with Cote d’Ivoire in the recent years.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- India gifted 50,000 doses of Made in India Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) to the people & Government of Cote d'Ivoire.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- India has been providing 100 training slots to Cote d’Ivoire under ITEC Programme annually. ICCR also extended 10 paid scholarships to Ivorian to pursue undergraduate and post graduate studies in India. 42 ITEC slots utilised during 2019-2020 & 32 during 2022-2023.
- GOI has offered the service of the upgraded programme of Pan African e-Network Project known as e-VidhyaBharati & e-Aarogya Bharati (e-VBAB) and have signed an MOU for cooperation in this regard CI has availed 43 scholarships under e-VBAB. Under the PAN African e-Network Project, 1505 Ivorian students have pursued higher studies through distant learning facilities at the University of Cocody.
- A tele-medical consultation facility with prominent hospitals in India has been established at Yopougon Hospital in Abidjan.
- Under ITEC Executive Programme, 23 Senior officials of Ivory Coast participated in customized Management Development Programme at IIM, Indore in December 2022.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- Bilateral ties have been strengthened by the expanding South-South Cooperation between the two countries. India had extended a grant of US$ 790,000/- for establishment of the Centre for Demonstration and Promotion of Technologies (CDT) in Abidjan in 2007-10. A Rural Technology Park is also being proposed to be built under India’s grant assistance under IAFS at cost of Rs. 36.3 crore.
- Completed LOC projects include:
- Renewal of urban transport system in Abidjan and for agricultural projects in the field of vegetable oil extraction, fruits and vegetable chips production, production of cocoa, coffee-LOC US $ 26.80 million
- Mahatma Gandhi IT and Biotechnology Park (LOC US$ 20 million). (c) Transmission line between Cote d'Ivoire and Mali [LOC US $ 54 (US $ 30 million + US$ 24 million)].
- On-going LoC projects include: (i) Fisheries Processing Plant (LOC US$ 4 million); (ii) Coconut fiber processing plant (LOC US$ 1.5 million) (iii) 30 Rice Production programme (LOC US $ 30 million) (iv) Upgradation / construction of four military hospitals (LOC US $ 71.4 million).
