Ath the reception, Chairman Phong expressed his delight at witnessing the well-developed friendship development between both countries. In 2017, two-way trade between Vietnam and Ivory Coast reached US$ 1 billion. This makes Ivory Coast a leading trade partner of Vietnam in Africa. In the first 6 months of 2018 alone, export value of Vietnam to Ivory Coast reached US$ 38.8 million and an import value of US$ 262 million from Ivory Coast.

With a goal of becoming an economic-financial center of Southeast Asia, HCMC is making full advantage of foreign resources, including from Ivory Coast – a promising market of Vietnam, especially in import-export of agricultural products. With a young and skillful populaiton, 350, 000 enterprises, Mr. Phong expressed his hope that HCMC will boost business connectivity and economic cooperation with Ivory Coast, especially in agricultural products.

For his part, Mr. Adama Dosso thanked HCMC’s leaders and people for their hospitality. He said in the last 40 years, Vietnam has maintained an important economic partner of Ivory Coast, especially in field of agriculutre with cashew nut as key product. Ivory Coast has strenghs in agaricutural development (cocoa, coffee, cashew net, etc. ). On the other hand, Ivory Coast is the fastest growing economy in Africa with well-trained workforce. He added that Vietnam and Ivory Coast have many similarities in economic conditions, climate, workforce, etc. so both countries should further promote economic cooperation, icluding between HCMC and Ivory Coast.

HCM CITYWEB