APA-Dakar (Senegal) The Ivorian Minister of Trade and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba, held talks with the Prime Minister of Senegal, Amadou Ba, on trade issues between the two countries.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the Dakar International Fair (FIDAK 2023).
Mr. Souleymane Diarrassouba was received on Saturday December 16, 2023, by Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba.
The two personalities discussed a number of issues, including strengthening the Abidjan-Dakar axis in terms of economic and commercial exchanges.
To this end, they reviewed the various existing mechanisms in trade relations and how the Ivorian and Senegalese parties could further boost them to the benefit of their respective economies.
Minister Diarrassouba conveyed to Prime Minister Ba the gratitude of President Alassane Ouattara and the Ivorian government for the choice of Côte d’Ivoire as guest of honor at the 31st edition of FIDAK.
In view of the enthusiastic response to the Côte d’Ivoire-Senegal Business Forum, Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba proposed, on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire, the institutionalisation of an annual Business Forum between the two countries, to further strengthen cooperation ties.
Prime Minister Ba welcomed the visit of Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba and his delegation.
He praised the excellent relations between the two countries, and recalled the “fraternity and great friendship” between Presidents Macky Sall and Alassane Ouattara.
The Ivorian Minister of Trade and Industry was accompanied by Côte d’Ivoire’s ambassador to Senegal, Lieutenant General Sekou Toure, CEPICI Director General Solange Amichia, Director General of Foreign Trade Kalilou Sylla, and Félicité Achi, Economic Affairs Advisor.
As part of the FIDAK, Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba, in addition to the Business Forum, took part in the Day dedicated to Côte d’Ivoire, on Saturday December 16, 2023, and attended the signing of an agreement between the Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Cci-CI) and the Senegal Chamber of Commerce (CCS).
Regularly organised since 1974, the Dakar International Trade Fair is one of West Africa’s leading business events.
It is an ideal platform for promoting products and services, making business contacts, exchanging ideas and finding commercial partners.
Shortly after the meeting, Minister Souleymane Diarrassouba visited a Senegalese company being set up in Abidjan.
The 2023 edition of FIDAK kicked off on December 7 and runs until December 31, 2023.
Trade between Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal stood at CFA228.549 billion in 2022.
The two leading countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) intend to strengthen their economic cooperation.
AP/fss/as/APA