What was most impressive rather than usual speech or congratulatory messages at the Cote d’Ivoire 57th National Day anniversary held in a downtown hotel Seoul on Aug. 7th evening compared with other Embassies events, was Cote d’Ivoire’s enthusiastic willingness to attract more foreign direct investments.

CEPICI (Cote d’Ivoire’s Investment Promotion Centre) introduced regarding ‘Why Cote d’Ivoire’, ‘Business environment in Cote d’Ivoire’, and last but not least ‘Invest in Cote d’Ivoire’ through its screening.

According to an analysis by Fortune of Africa, actually Côte d’Ivoire is contributing significantly to the economic development of the West Africa region due to its geographical location, diverse economy, and infrastructure network. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the largest economies of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and represents around 40 per cent of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WEAMU) GDP.

So regarding ‘Why invest in Cote d’Ivoire?‘, Fortune of Africa names following points: “•The country has preserved its post-2011 political stability and is focusing intently on economic growth in order to become an “emerging” economy by 2020

•Fertile soils for agriculture and natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, copper, gold, nickel

•Relatively well-developed road infrastructure, the second largest port in West Africa, and a modern airport with a reliable national airline, Air Cote d’Ivoire, which services all of the major capital cities in the region.“

As a result, our economy is experiencing strong growth, among the highest in the world. Indeed, the 7th report of the World Bank published on July 12, 2018 shows that in 2017, the Ivorian economy continued to grow at a rate of 7.8%, which allows Côte d'Ivoire to rank in the top 5 of the fastest growing countries in the world, said Cote d’Ivoire Amb. Kouassi Bile by his welcome remarks.

Côte d'Ivoire, under the leadership of President Alassane OUATTARA, aims to become an emerging country by 2020 and it gives itself the means by the establishment of strong institutions and effective administration.

Secondly what was impressive, was Cote d’Ivoire Government’s deep interest in the security circumstances on the peninsula as mentioned by Cote d’Ivoire Amb’s speech.

In conjunction with recent reconciliation circumstances between the two Koreas on the peninsula, BILE contributed his message to the NDNnews (www.ndnnews.co.kr) & Seoulcity magazine last April as follows: “The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, which has always advocated the way of dialogue and negotiation for the settlement of any conflict, is following with interest and steady attention, the reconciliation process initiated between South and North Korea in the recent Winter Olympic Games of PyeongChang.

Cote d'Ivoire welcomes the warming of the relations between the two countries as well as the announcement of the 3rd inter-Korean Summit and has a great hope for its outcome.

Unlike the first two Summits, this one is planned at the beginning of President Moon Jae-in's term. It shows how much he is willing to spend the necessary time on this issue and give it the opportunity to a happy ending.

This commitment is fully shard by Cote d'Ivoire, which wants the talks to lead, among other things, to the signing of a Peace Treaty marking the official and definitive end of the Korean War, as well as to an agreement on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.“

Touching upon that we are particularly happy to be with you tonight, in a context of improved inter-Korean relation, BILE said that I would like, therefore, to express my country’s support for the way of dialogue and negotiation chosen by President MOON Jae-In, for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the normalization of relations between the two countries.

As mentioned also by several congratulatory messages at the venue, the unique experience of Korea, which achieved both economic development and democratization, seems to be shared to provide a fertile ground for Côte D’Ivoire to grow and thrive on.

To name such some examples, Amb. BILE welcomed the signing, in February 2018, of an agreement for the construction of a large radiotherapy and oncology center in Abidjan at a cost of about $ 110 million.

I remain convinced that with the official opening of the Korea-Africa Foundation, on June 25, 2018, other areas of cooperation will be identified and explored, for more fruitful bilateral relations, he added.

Further, Deputy Director General Koh Kyung-Sok of MOFA mentioned that Korea has contributed to the economic development of Côte d’Ivoire. Two power plants built by Korean companies, AZITO III and CIPREL IV, are the unsleeping engines that support the industries of Côte d’Ivoire.

On the international scene, since January 1st, 2018, Côte d'Ivoire has a seat of the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member, and is defending the cause of peace and security in Africa and in the world.