This photo taken on Oct. 26, 2026 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
ABIDJAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire hopes to use its first official collective participation in the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) to promote its products, expand access to the Chinese market and attract investment in local processing, the head of the country's export promotion agency has said.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Kaladji Fadiga, director general of the Cote d'Ivoire Export Agency, said the West African country would showcase five strategic sectors and their value chains -- cocoa, coffee, cashew nuts, kola nuts and textiles -- at the ninth CIIE, scheduled for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai.
"Cote d'Ivoire has quality products, recognized expertise and considerable potential," Fadiga said. "'Made in Cote d'Ivoire' represents excellence rooted in expertise, origin and history."
Cote d'Ivoire is a leading global producer of cocoa and cashew nuts. Fadiga also highlighted the potential of kola nuts among Asian consumers.
"Cote d'Ivoire aspires to position itself as an economic partner with a differentiated offering, combining unprocessed agricultural products and agro-industrial goods," he said, adding that the country aims to promote the "Made in Cote d'Ivoire" label through local brands ready to enter the Chinese market.
Cocoa pods and cocoa beans are displayed at an exhibition booth of the 10th National Cocoa and Chocolate Days in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, on Sept. 1, 2026.(Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
"Today, international trade is taking place in a particularly uncertain environment, marked by the resurgence of protectionism in markets," Fadiga said. "In this context, the resilience of the Chinese economy deserves particular attention."
He said this resilience offers significant opportunities for African countries seeking to diversify their trading partners. For Cote d'Ivoire, China's ability to sustain investment and honor its trade commitments despite global turbulence offers further opportunities to diversify its export markets and boost exports, he added.
He pointed to demand from Chinese buyers for Ivorian products, including cocoa, cashew nuts, rubber and cotton, as well as China's zero-tariff policy for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, including Cote d'Ivoire.
Calling the policy "much more than a simple adjustment," Fadiga said it could make eligible Ivorian goods, particularly cashew nuts, more price-competitive in the Chinese market.
Beyond tariff advantages, the expo provides Ivorian companies with a platform to meet Chinese importers and distributors, better understand market demand, identify potential business partners and pursue long-term export opportunities.
To support Ivorian exporters, the Cote d'Ivoire Export Agency and the Chinese Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire have established a bilateral working group called "Export to China."
The initiative seeks to connect Ivorian exporters with Chinese buyers, assist with customs clearance and help companies comply with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. It also plans to organize study visits to China to familiarize Ivorian businesses with the Chinese market and its business environment.
Workers package finished standard rubber blocks at a rubber processing factory owned by China's Mainland Group in San Pedro, Cote d'Ivoire, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)
Beyond trade promotion, Cote d'Ivoire hopes to leverage its economic ties with China to expand local processing and increase the value added to its exports.
Citing Ivorian customs data, Fadiga said the country exported 1 million tons of raw cocoa beans worth about 2.4 trillion CFA francs (4.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, compared with 613,000 tons of processed cocoa products valued at approximately 2 trillion CFA francs (3.4 billion dollars).
"This is quantitative evidence of the strategic importance of increasing our local processing rate," he said.
"Our short-term objectives include signing several commercial contracts with Chinese importers and distributors, promoting Ivorian expertise among Chinese consumers, and identifying partners willing to invest in local processing," Fadiga said.
Looking ahead, he said Cote d'Ivoire hopes to strengthen its presence at successive editions of the expo, and deepen economic cooperation with China.
"Our role as a national export promotion agency is to ensure that 'Made in Cote d'Ivoire' finds its rightful place in global markets," he said. "With CIIE 2026, we are moving resolutely in that direction."
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