Côte d’Ivoire is fast becoming one of West Africa’s most resilient economies, thanks to consistent growth, increasing U.S. investments, and deliberate efforts to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Although AGOA expired in September, former U.S. President Donald Trump signaled his readiness to extend it for another year, giving the country more room to deepen trade ties.
According to the U.S. State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate Statement, Côte d’Ivoire has maintained a strong economic footing despite global challenges. The report praised the nation’s steady fiscal discipline, strategic reforms, and growing economic diversity as key factors behind its stability. With low inflation, sustained GDP growth, and clear progress in reducing poverty, the country is being recognized as a “resilient and dynamic economic leader” in the region.
Growth in Côte d’Ivoire has been largely fueled by reforms and diversification. Key sectors such as agriculture, energy, extractives, and infrastructure continue to drive expansion, supported by strong private consumption and foreign direct investment. The upcoming 2025–2030 National Development Plan aims to fast-track industrialization, reform education, and create more job opportunities for young people — a much-needed step to sustain the momentum.
![Image: Aerial view of Abidjan skyline representing economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire]
Trade and investment between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire are also on the rise. In 2024 alone, total U.S.–Ivorian trade in goods and services hit $1.9 billion — up by over 12% from the previous year. U.S. exports jumped by more than 16%, led by machinery, chemical products, and agricultural equipment. American companies are now investing heavily in digital infrastructure, agribusiness, and sustainable energy, while U.S. development finance is helping strengthen governance and infrastructure.
In the 2023 fiscal year, Washington provided $240 million in foreign assistance to Côte d’Ivoire. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) completed a $536 million transport and workforce compact, and a new $300 million regional energy project was launched to improve electricity access across West Africa. These partnerships highlight a growing confidence in the Ivorian economy.
![Image: Workers at an Ivorian cocoa processing plant symbolizing trade and industry growth]
Private sector collaboration has also deepened. In 2025, the U.S. and Côte d’Ivoire Chambers of Commerce renewed their Memorandum of Understanding to enhance dialogue, support small businesses, and ease regulatory barriers. Yet, despite the impressive progress, the country’s use of AGOA — which allows duty-free exports to the U.S. — remains minimal. Experts say Côte d’Ivoire still has much untapped potential under this trade scheme.
A study by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that only 3.7% of Ivorian exports to the U.S. between 2002 and 2025 benefited from AGOA preferences. Most exports, such as cocoa, cashew, petroleum, and rubber, already enjoy duty-free access under other programs. Gérard Amangoua, a trade expert and co-author of the report, noted that Côte d’Ivoire remains Africa’s largest agricultural exporter to the U.S. — but with a focused strategy, it could become a true model for trade-driven industrialization.
![Image: Port of Abidjan with cargo ships loading exports for international trade]
To unlock that potential, experts are calling for a revamped trade strategy, stronger export institutions, and improved logistics and compliance capacity. They also suggest tapping into diaspora networks and partnering more closely with U.S. importers to open new market channels. Both the State Department and Carnegie Endowment agree that Côte d’Ivoire’s infrastructure development, reform energy, and U.S. partnerships make it well-positioned for lasting economic gains.
As one Ivorian official summed it up, “With our policy reforms and deepening ties with U.S. investors, Côte d’Ivoire is set to become the gateway for American trade and investment in West Africa.”
