- Launched in recent years on a strong growth dynamic, recording an average increase in GDP of 8% since 2012, Côte d'Ivoire escaped recession in 2020. International organizations predicted 7% before the arrival of the virus. Like the rest of the planet, the locomotive of West Africa suffered the impact of Covid, which last year led to a sharp slowdown in activity (+1.8%) under the effect of the restrictive measures (curfew and closures). On the health front, relatively spared with just over 22,000 declared cases, the country has experienced an acceleration in recent days, stronger than its neighbors. Driven for several years by the influx of foreign investment and infrastructure works, growth in 2020 should above all be based on the private sector and the diversification of the economic fabric, notes a World Bank report.

Agriculture plays an important role, with Côte d'Ivoire being the world's leading producer and exporter of cocoa beans. Investor confidence is undeniable: at the end of November, the country successfully issued an issue on the international bond markets - the first in Africa since the pandemic - of one billion euros, at the historically low rate of 5%. At the same time, Abidjan benefited from the anti-crisis initiative of the G20 and the Paris Club to suspend payments on debt maturities until the end of June 2021. The World Bank forecasts a sharp rebound in growth this year, from 5.5 %, and the IMF (in October) 6.2%. AC